EARLY 


ECCLESIASTICAL 


HISTORY  OF  WHATELY 


BEING    THE    SUBSTANCE    OP  >     ) 

1 

A     DISCOURSE 

DELIVERED  JANUARY  7,  1849. 

j 

BY    J.    HOWARD    TEMPLE, 

PASTOR    OF    THE    FIRST    CHURCH. 


WITH    AN    APPENDIX    CONTAINING    FAMILY    RECORDS, 


NORTHAMPTON \ 

PRINTED    BY    J.   &   L.  METCALK 

1  S  4  9 . 


) 


i 


\ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
AT  AMHERST 


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Special  Collections  &  Rare  Books 


EARLY 

ECCLESIASTICAL 

HISTORY  OF  WHATELY 

BEING    THE    SUBSTANCE    OF 

A    DISCOURSE 

DELIVERED  JANUARY  7,  1849. 


BY    J.   HOWARD    TEMPLE, 

PASTOR    OF    THE    FIRST    CHURCH. 


WITH    AN    APPENDIX    CONTAINING    FAMILY    RECORDS. 


NORTHAMPTON: 

PRINTED    BY    J.  &   L.  METCALE. 

1849. 


HISTORICAL     DISCOURSE. 


"I  will  utter  —  sayings  of  old;    which  we  have  heard  and  known,  and  our 
fathers  have  told  us." — Psalm  78  :  2,  3. 

A  definite  and  full  knowledge  of  men  and  generations  of 
men,  such  as  is  distinctive  of  themselves,  quickly  fades  away. 
They  had  a  real  importance  in  their  day ;  they  were  the  matters 
of  fact,  and  their  decisions  and  acts  gave  its  character  to  the 
society  of  their  day  ;  but  their  day  was  brief,  and  after  death, 
"  their  remembrance  perishes  from  the  earth,  and  they  have  no 
name  in  the  streets." 

This  tendency  to  oblivion  is  common  to  traditional  reports, 
and  in  a  measure  to  official  Records.  The  former  soon  become 
generalized,  and  confused  ;  and  the  latter  get  mutilated.  And 
as  each  is  requisite  to  explain  and  illustrate  the  other,  the  true 
characteristics  of  individual  men  and  events  thus  become  ob- 
scured and  lost. 

This  general  remark  applies  to  the  men  and  events  which 
constituted  the  early  History  of  this  Town.  The  Records,  such 
as  they  are,  of  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical  matters  of  those  times 
are  now  in  existence  ;  but  being  in  single  copies,  they  are  liable 
to  be  destroyed  by  age  and  accident.  A  small  remnant  of  the 
second  generation  of  our  ancestors  is  yet  left,  in  whose  memories 
are  stored  many  facts,  nowhere  recorded,  yet  necessary  to  eluci- 
date the  written  memorials.  A  desire  to  multiply  the  written 
accounts,  and  to  save  these  traditions,  as  given  by  first  mouth, 
led  to  the  preparation  of  this  discourse.  I  have  extracted  at 
large  from  the  official  Records,  and  gathered  what  was  evidently 
authentic,  from  the  memories  of  the  aged.  The  result — chiefly 
relating  to  our  Ecclesiastical  History  for  the  fifty  years  following 
1770,  is  now  sent  forth,  with  the  hope  that  I  may  be  doing  a 
service  to  the  younger  part  of  the  people  of  the  town,  and   to 


those  who  may  come  after  us.  Possibly  these  pages  may  also 
interest  the  older  people,  by  reviving  some  of  the  associations  of 
their  youth.  And  I  am  sure  that  all  classes  may  derive  moral 
profit,  from  the  contrasts  to  our  own  favored  circumstances  here 
presented,  and  by  tracing  the  hand  of  God  in  the  works  which 
He  did  in  our  fathers'  days,  "  in  the  times  of  old." 

The  northern  part  of  Hatfield,  extending  five  and  a  half  miles 
cast  and  west,  and  three  miles*  north  and  south,  "was  incorpo- 
rated into  a  Town  by  the  name  of  Whately,  by  the  great  and 
general  Court  of  this  Province  held  at  Cambridge,  in  the  month 
of  April,  1771." 

The  major  part  of  the  first  inhabitants  were  branches  of  Hat- 
field families,  who  had  taken  lands  within  the  limits  of  the  new 
Town.  Probably  settlements  began  to  be  made  as  early  as 
1750.  About  that  date  several  houses  were  built  in  the 
4i  Straits,"  (so  called  ;')  one  by  Joseph  Belding,  where  Zebina 
Bartlett  now  lives  ;  one  by  Sergeant  John  Wait,  now  owned  by 
John  Wait,  a  grandson  ;  one  by  Elisha  Smith,  farther  south, 
(known  as  the  "  Gad  Smith  place  ;")  one  by  David  Graves, 
known  as  the  "  Stockbridge  Tavern  ;"  and  one  by  Joseph 
Scott,f  where  Jabez  Pease  now  lives.  These  were  the  first 
dwelling  houses  erected  in  town.  Oliver  Graves,  born  in  1761, 
(whose  memory  has  supplied  many  facts  recorded  in  these  pa- 
ges) remarks,  "  they  began  to  look  old  when  he  was  a  boy." 

Within  a  few  years  from  the  above  date,  Lieut.  Ebenezer 
Bardwell  built  a  small  house,  where  now  is  an  orchard,  south- 
westerly from  Randall  Graves',  (the  house  was  afterwards  owned 
by  David  Scott ;)  Thomas  Crafts  built  where  Dexter  Crafts 
now  lives  ;  and  Dea.  Joel  Dickinson  near  where  Calvin  Wells' 
house  now  stands.^     These  houses  were  located  on  the  "  Chest- 

*In  1805  (?)  a  tract  about  half  a  mile  wide,  was  annexed  to  the  north  side 
from  Deerfield,  making  the  present  width  3  1-2  miles. 

t  He  first  settled  on  the  plain,  farther  south,  on  "  Mother  George,"  (so 
called.)  He  was  poor,  and  had  a  large  family.  One  Sabbath  morning,  a 
Deer  was  found  in  the  barn-yard  with  his  cattle.  As  they  were  out  of  pro- 
visions, his  wife  urged  him  to  make  a  virtue  of  necessity,  and  shoot  the 
Deer.  But  he  refused,  declaring  that  "  if  the  Lord  intended  it  for  him,  He 
would  send  it  some  other  day."  A  few  days  after,  the  Deer  came  again, 
when  he  shot  it. 

J  This  house  was  "  picketed"  as  a  defence  against  the  Indians,  and  was  the 
fort  of  these  three  families.     Probably  these  houses  were  erected  in  1752. 


nut  plain  street,"  (so  called)  and  were  the  first  buildings  in  the 
central  part  of  the  town.  In  1759,  Daniel  Morton  built  on  the 
place  now  owned  by  his  son,  Consider  Morton  ;  (the  original 
house  is  still  standing.)  In  1761,  Oliver  Graves  built  where 
Jerry  Graves  now  lives  ;  and  at  near  the  same  time  houses  were 
built  by  Oliver  Morton,  (his  house  is  still  standing,  and  is  occu- 
pied by  John  Lyman  Morton,  his  grandson  :)  by  Salmon  White, 
on  the  place  now  owned  by  Luke  B.  White  ;  by  Moses  Dick- 
inson, in  the  orchard  west  of  Oliver  Dickinson's  ;  and  in  the 
westerly  part  of  the  town,  by  Nathan  Graves,  Peter  Train,  and 
Edward  Brown. 

During  these  and  the  few  following  years,  as  the  territory  was 
yet  a  part  of  Hatfield,  the  public  history  of  these  families  prop- 
erly belongs  to  that  town. 

The  first  meeting  for  the  election  of  Town  officers  was  held 
at  the  house  of  Daniel  Morton,  Innholder,  May  6,  1771.  To 
show  what  families  had  now  a  residence  in  town,  and  who  were 
regarded  as  the  more  prominent  citizens,  a  list  of  the  officers 
then  chosen  is  subjoined. 

Salmon  White,  Town  Cleric,  and  Town  Treasurer;  Joseph 
Belding  Jun.  and  Henry  Stiles,  Constables ;  John  Wait,  Simeon 
Wait,  Edward  Brown,  Salmon  White,  arid  Philip  Smith,  Select- 
men;  Edward  Brown,  Philip  Smith,  and  Salmon  White,  Asses- 
sors ;  Thomas  Crafts,  Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures  ;  Thom- 
as Sanderson,  Sealer  of  Leather ;  Peter  Train,  Oliver  Graves, 
and  Benj.  Smith,  Surveyors  of  Highways ;  Israel  Graves,  Noah 
Bardwell,  and  John  Wait,  Jun.,  Fence  Viewers  ;  Benj.  Scott, 
Jun.,  John  Brown,  and  Joseph  Crafts,  Field  Drivers  ;  Elisha 
Belding  and  Noah  Bardwell,  Tything-men ;  Benj.  Smith,  Perez 
Bardwell,  and  Abraham  Turner,  Wardens ;  John  Crafts,  Martin 
Graves,  and  Elisha  Frary,  Deer  Reeves  ;  Thomas  Crafts,  Sur- 
veyor of  Shingles  ;  Peter  Train,  Gad  Smith,  and  Lemuel  Wells, 
Hog  Reeves. 

Thus  much  of  general  history  seemed  proper,  as  introductory 
to  the  account  of  ecclesiastical  affairs. 

At  a  meeting  held,  probably  by  adjournment,  May  9th,  three 
days  after  the  formal   organization  of  the  town,  it  was  voted. 


"  To  raise  thirty  pounds  for  preaching," — of  such  prime  import- 
ance were  the  institutions  of  Religion  esteemed  by  our  fathers. 
June  4,  1771,  the  town  voted,  To  hire  Mr.  Rufus  Wells  of 
Deerfield,  to  preach  six  weeks  upon  probation.  Simeon  Wait, 
John  Wait,  and  Philip  Smith  were  chosen  a  committee  to  engage 
Mr.  Wells.  The  same  committee  were  instructed  to  provide  a 
place  for  Mr.  Wells  to  board  at ;  who  attended  to  the  duty,  and 
engaged  board  at  Daniel  Morton's.  Mr.  Wells  continued  to 
board  here,  and  at  Salmon  White's,  till  his  marriage  in  1776. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  six  weeks'  probation,  the  town  voted, 
To  give  Mr.  Rufus  Wells  a  call  to  settle  in  the  Gospel  ministry 
with  us.  The  conditions  offered  were  as  follows  :  a  "  settle- 
ment," as  it  was  termed,  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  three  pounds, 
six  shillings,  and  eight  pence  ;  a  salary  of  fifty  five  pounds  for 
the  first  year;  and  to  rise  forty  shillings  yearly  till  it  amount  to 
seventy  five  pounds.  It  was  also  voted,  That  Mr.  Wells  be 
allowed  six  pounds  yearly  for  Wood,  to  take  place  at  such  time 
as  he  sets  up  housekeeping.  The  committee  to  make  these 
proposals  to  Mr.  Wells  were  Nathan  Graves,  Daniel  Morton 
and  Salmon  White. 

A  pound  as  then  reckoned,  was  equal  to  three  dollars,  thirty 
three  and  a  third  cents.  Hence  the  settlement  would  amount  to 
450  dollars  ;  and  the  full  salary,  including  the  allowance  for 
wood,  to  270  dollars  per  year.  This  sum  sounds  small,  com- 
pared with  Ministers'  salaries  at  the  present  day.  But  it  is  to 
be  considered  that  money  is  valuable  according  as  it  procures 
the  necessaries  of  life.  Taking  the  price  of  wheat  as  a  stand- 
ard, 270  dollars  then  was  equal  to  about  360  dollars  now ;  with 
the  wages  of  labor  for  a  standard,  which  is  probably  more  just, 
the  270  dollars  was  equal  to  550  dollars  at  the  present  time  ; 
taking  the  price  of  land  as  the  standard,  270  dollars  then  was 
equal  to  2000  dollars  now.* 

The  settlement  was  paid   in   land ;  the  town  making  over  to 

*Mr.  Justin  Morton,  born  17G0,  (to  whom  ]  am  indebted  for  many  facts 
herein  stated)  informs  me  that  the  ordinary  price  of  Land  at  that  time,  was 
20  shillings  ($3,33  1-:?)  per  acre;  Wheat,  4  shillings  the  bushel;  Rye,  3 
shillings  ;  Corn,  2  shillings  ;  Flax,  8  pence  per  lb.  The  wages  of  labor,  for 
an  able  bodied  man,  was  ;{  shillings  (50  cts.)  a  day  in  haying  time,  and  2 
shillings  for  ordinary  farm  work.     In  1797,  laths  were  4  dollars  per  M. 


Mr.  Wells  the  lot  lying  east  of  the  old  Parsonage,  extending 
from  land  now  owned  by  Calvin  Wells  on  the  north,  to  land  of 
J.  P.  Dickinson  on  the  south,  and  containing  near  60  acres. 

After  giving  Mr.  Wells  a  call,  (as  above)  the  town,  it  appears, 
applied  to  some  of  the  neighboring  Ministers  for  advice  in  the 
case,  and  received  an  answer  as  follows  :  "  Whereas  the  inhab- 
itants of  Whately  have  applied  to  us  for  our  advice  respecting 
the  settlement  of  Mr.  Rufus  Wells  in  the  work  of  the  Ministry 
among  them  ;  we  hereby  signify  that  we  well  approve  of  their 
choice  of  the  said  Mr.  Rufus  Wells,  and  do  freely  advise  to  his 
settlement  in  the  ministry  in  said  Whately ;  provided  no  suffi- 
cient obstacle  shall  appear  in  the  way  of  his  settlement  there. 
Signed,  Joseph  Ashley. 

Jonathan  Ashley. 

John  Emerson." 
August  ye  cZd,  1771. 

Up  to  this  time,  no  Church  had  been  organized  in  the  limits 
of  the  town ;  the  people  going  to  Hatfield  centre  to  attend  pub- 
lic worship,  till  the  engagement  of  Mr.  Wells.  Such  a  step 
now  became  obviously  necessary.  And  we  find  at  a  Town 
meeting  held  August  13,  1771,  it  was  voted,  That  Wednesday 
the  21st  day  of  this  August  be  kept  as  a  day  of  Fasting  and 
Prayer  by  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  town  of  Whately. 

Voted,  That  Messrs.  David  Parsons  of  Amherst,  Joseph 
Ashley  of  Sunderland,  Jonathan  Ashley  of  Deerfield,  Samuel 
Hopkins  of  Hadley,  and  John  Emerson  of  Conway,  V.  D.  M. 
be  the  persons  to  perform  the  services  of  the  day  of  Fasting. 

August  21,  1771.  On  this  day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer, 
(writes  Mr.  Wells  in  his  Church  Records)  there  being  present 
on  the  occasion,  Rev.  Messrs.  Parsons,  Jona.  Ashley,  Hopkins, 
and  Emerson,  after  the  public  services  of  the  day  were  finished, 
the  members  in  full  communion  in  Whately  were  embodied  into 
a  church,  being  recommended  by  the  church  of  Christ  in  Hat- 
field, to  which  church  by  far  the  greatest  part  that  were  embod- 
ied did  belong,  and  had  communed  there  in  all  the  ordinances 
of  the  Gospel. 

The  Certificate  of  recommendation,  above  alluded  to,  was  in 
the  following  words :  These  may  certify,  that  the  within  men- 


8 

tioned  persons  are  members  of  the  church  of  Christ  in  Hatfield, 
in  regular  standing  ;  and  as  such  are  recommended  to  be  em- 
bodied in  a  church  state  among  themselves. 

By  vote  of  the  Ch.  Oba.  Dickinson. 

Hatfield,  August  19,  1771. 

The  members  embodied  had  the  following  Confession  of 
Faith,  and  Covenant,  read  to  them,  to  which  they  consented7 
and  which  they  subscribed. 

We  believe  that  God  who  is  the  Creator,  Lord  and  Judge  of 
the  world,  hath  discovered  his'  sovereignty  over  man,  and  show- 
ed his  mercy  and  goodness  to  him,  in  the  clear  and  full  Revela- 
tion of  his  will  in  all  things  that  concern  man's  duty  to  God,  his 
neighbor,  and  himself,  and  the  way  of  his  salvation  and  happi- 
ness, in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament ;  which 
we  acknowledge  and  believe  to  be  a  perfect  Rule  of  our  Faith 
and  practice,  and  that  no  new  or  further  Revelation  is  to  be 
expected. 

We  believe  concerning  God,  that  he  is  the  first,  the  greatest 
and  the  best  of  Beings,  in  whom  all  perfection  dwells,  to  whom 
nothing  can  be  added,  and  from  whom  nothing  can  be  diminished. 

We  believe  that  God  is  one,  and  that  in  the  unity  of  the 
Godhead,  there  are  that  are  called  persons,  three,  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  that  these  three  are  one  in 
essence,  equal  in  power  and  glory. 

We  believe  God  to  be  the  Creator,  Governor,  and  Judge  of 
angels  and  of  men,  that  notlrng  escapes  his  knowledge,  and  that 
he  rules  in  the  kingdom  of  Nature,  Providence,  and  Grace  ; 
and  according  to  the  council  of  his  own  will  doth  all  his  pleas- 
ure in  them. 

We  believe  that  God  made  man  male  and  female,  with  rea- 
sonable and  immortal  souls,  after  his  own  image  in  moral  recti- 
tude, capable  of  knowing,  serving  and  enjoying  him,  and  yet 
capable  of  falling  ;  that  God  made  a  Covenant  with  man, — on 
condition  of  perfect  obedience  he  was  to  continue  in  the  favor 
of  God, — and  on  his  failure  or  disobedience,  annexed  death,  the 
just  wages  of  sin,  as  a  penalty ;  that  in  this  Covenant  our  first 
father  stood  and  acted  as  the  public  head,  representative  of  the 
whole  human  species ;  that  he  broke  covenant  with  God  by 


eating  the  forbidden  fruit ;  that  he  and  we  by  him  came  under 
the  curse  of  God's  righteous  law,  and  forfeited  the  blessings  of 
the  first  Covenant. 

We  believe  that  God  the  Father  so  loved  the  world  that  he 
gave  his  only  begotten  Son  to  be  a  Mediator  between  God  and 
man  in  this  his  lapsed  state  ;  to  be  born  of  a  woman,  made  un- 
der the  Law,  to  redeem  man  and  his  posterity  from  the  curse  of 
the  law,  and  to  purchase  eternal  Blessedness  for  them  ;  who  as 
Mediator  sustains  the  office  of  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King,  and 
is  made  of  God,  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctification  and  re- 
demption to  all  that  receive  and  believe  in  him  as  offered  in  the 
Gospel  ;  and  that  on  such  and  only  such  he  will  confer  ever- 
lasting life  and  happiness,  whom  alone  he  hath  predestinated  to 
eternal  life  and  blessedness. 

We  believe  the  Immortality  of  the  soul,  and  that  there  will  be 
a  Resurrection  of  the  body  from  the  dead,  and  an  equal  distribu- 
tion of  rewards  and  punishments  to  every  man  according  to  his 
deeds  done  in  the  body,  by  God,  who  without  respect  of  per- 
sons will  judge  the  secrets  of  men  by  Jesus  Christ,  according 
to  his  Gospel. 

We  believe  that  it  is  the  duty  of  all  men  constantly  to  ob- 
serve and  faithfully  to  attend,  secret,  family  and  public  worship, 
and  particularly  the  Ministry  of  the  word,  Prayer  and  Sacra- 
ments of  the  New  Testament,  in  and  by  which  we  believe  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  works  upon  the  souls  of  men,  and  makes  them 
effectual  to  their  salvation,  by  the  righteousness  and  complete 
obedience  of  him  who  is  the  great  Head  of  the  Church. 

Lastly,  we  believe  that  it  is  our  duty  as  a  society  of  Chris- 
tians, to  join  together  as  a  Church  of  Christ,  to  set  up,  attend 
upon  and  support  a  faithful  Ministry  among  us. 

COVENANT. 

We  whose  names  are  under  written,  being  as  we  apprehend 
called  of  God  to  enter  into  the  Church  state  of  the  Gospel,  for 
the  free  and  constant  enjoyment  of  God's  worship  and  ordinan- 
ces, do  in  the  first  place  acknowledge  our  unworthiness  to  be  so 
highly  favored  of  the  Lord,  and  at  the  same  time  admiring  and 
adoring  the  free  grace  of  God  which  triumphs  over  so  great  un- 
2 


10 

worthiness,  with  humble  dependence  on  his  grace,  would  now 
thankfully  lay  hold  on  his  Covenant,  and  choose  the  things 
which  please  him. 

We  declare  our  serious  and  cordial  belief  of  the  Christian 
Religion  as  contained  in  the  sacred  scriptures,  and  as  it  is  usu- 
ally embraced  by  the  faithful  in  the  churches  of  New  England 
— which  is  summarily  exhibited  in  our  Confession  of  Faith,  as 
to  the  substance  of  it ;  heartily  resolving  to  conform  ourselves 
to  the  rules  of  Christ's  holy  religion  as  long  as  we  live  in  the 
world ;  taking  the  word  of  God  for  our  only  guide  in  all  matters 
of  Religion  ;  professing  repentance  for  all  our  sins  and  miscar- 
riages, we  desire, 

2.  To  give  up  ourselves  to  the  Lord  Jehovah,  Father,  Son  and 
Holy  Ghost,  and  avouch  him  this  day  to  be  our  God,  our  Saviour, 
and  our  Sanctifier,  and  receive  him  as  our  Portion  forever. 

3.  We  do  in  particular  give  up  ourselves  to  the  blessed  Jesus, 
acknowledging  his  true  Deity,  and  promise  to  adhere  to  him,  as 
the  Head  of  his  people  in  the  Covenant  of  grace,  and  rely  upon 
him  as  our  prophet,  priest  and  king,  to  bring  us  to  eternal  Bless- 
edness. 

4.  We  acknowledge  our  everlasting  and  indispensable  obliga- 
tion to  glorify  God  in  all  the  duties  of  a  sober,  godly  and  reli- 
gious life, — and  very  particularly  in  the  duties  of  Church  state, 
and  body  of  people  associated,  for  an  obedience  to  him  in  all 
the  ordinances  of  his  Gospel  ;  and  in  this  way  we  depend  upon 
his  gracious  assistance  to  enable  us  faithfully  to  discharge  all 
duties  thus  incumbent  on  us. 

5.  We  do  likewise  promise  and  engage,  with  divine  help,  to 
walk  together  as  a  Church  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  faith 
and  order  of  the  Gospel,  so  far  as  we  do  know  or  shall  have  the 
same  made  known  to  us  ;  and  faithfully  and  constantly  to  attend 
the  public  worship  of  God,  and  the  sacraments  of  the  New 
Testament,  and  to  keep  family  religion  in  our  houses  ;  and  that 
we  will  carefully  adhere  to  the  laws  of  Christ's  kingdom,  with 
regard  to  the  Discipline  of  the  Church,  and  obey  him  in  the 
Lord  whom  God  shall  give  to  rule  over  us,  and  set  to  watch  for 
our  souls  ;  and  to  attend  to  all  God's  holy  institutions  in  Com- 
munion with  one  another,  watching  over  one  another  for  good, 


11 

and  that  in  the  spirit  of  meekness,  love  and  tenderness  ;  care- 
fully avoiding  all  sinful  stumbling  blocks,  strifes  and  contentions, 
and  that  we  will  endeavor  to  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the 
bond  of  peace. 

Finally,  we  do  also  present  our  Offspring  with  ourselves  unto 
the  Lord,  resolving  with  divine  help  and  assistance  to  endeavor 
our  part  in  the  method  of  a  good  and  religious  education  that 
they  may  be  the  Lord's  ;  that  we  will  endeavor  to  give  them 
seasonable  and  suitable  instructions  in  the  duties  both  of  piety 
and  charity,  and  enforce  the  same  by  our  own  good  example, 
counsels,  admonitions  and  suitable  corrections  ; — and  all  this  we 
endeavor  to  do,  flying  to  the  Blood  of  the  everlasting  Covenant 
for  the  free  pardon  of  all  our  sins,  praying  that  the  gracious 
Head  of  the  Church,  who  is  the  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep, 
would  prepare  us  for,  and  strengthen  us  unto  every  good  word 
and  work,  working  in  us  that  which  is  well  pleasing  in  his  sight, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be  glory,  honor,  and  thanksgiv- 
ing forever  and  ever.     Amen. 

Salmon  White,  Simeon  Wait,  John  Wait,  Richard  Chauncey, 
Nathan  Graves,  David  Scott,  Thomas  Crafts,  Daniel  Morton, 
Israel  Graves,  Benjamin  Smith,  Philip  Smith,  Elisha  Frary, 
Joshua  Belding,  John  Wait,  Jr.,  David  Graves,  Jr.,  Elisha  Bel- 
ding,  Oliver  Graves. 

Besides  the  above  who  subscribed  to  the  Covenant,  the  fol- 
lowing persons  consented  to  it  at  the  same  time,  and  were  em- 
bodied into  a  Church  state  with  those  who  subscribed  ;  viz. 
Elizabeth  Bardwell,  Elizabeth  Belding,  Submit  Scott,  Abagail 
Smith,  Martha  Wait,  Eunice  Graves,  Mary  White,  Ruth  Bel- 
ding, Mary  Wait,  Abagail  Crafts,  Lydia  Stiles,  Ruth  Stiles, 
George  Prutt,  Sarah  Smith,  Sarah  Smith,  Jun.,  Abagail  Graves, 
Jemima  Scott,  Abagail  Scott,  Anna  Belding,  Sarah  Wells,  Elea- 
nor Morton,  Miriam  Frary,  Elizabeth  Chauncey,  Abagail  Smith. 

Mr.  Wells  having  given  an  answer  accepting  the  call  to  settle 
in  the  Ministry,  the  Town  (no  record  is  made  of  any  Church 
action  in  the  case)  proceeded  to  make  the  necessary  preparation 
for  his  ordination.  The  Churches  invited  to  compose  the  Coun- 
cil, and  assist  in  the  ordination  were  13  in  number,  as  follows: 
Hatfield,  Northampton,  Hadley,  Amherst,  Sunderland,  Monta- 


12 

gue,  Northfield,  Bernardston,  Greenfield,  Deerfield,  Conway, 
Ashfield,  and  Charlemont. 

Salmon  White  was  agreed  with,  to  provide  for  and  entertain 
the  Council. 

The  Council  met,  and  Mr.  Wells  was  "set  apart  to  the  work 
of  the  Ministry,  being  made  an  overseer  of  the  Church  or  Flock 
of  Christ  in  Whately,  by  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the 
Presbytery,"  Sept.  25,  1771.  The  services  were  held  under 
the  shade  of  two  large  oaks,  standing  on  the  west  side  of  the 
highway,  just  south  of  the  dwelling  house  of  Dr.  Myron  Har- 
wood.  A  stage  was  built  for  the  Ministers,  and  the  people 
were  gathered  in  front  on  temporary  seats.  The  exercises  were 
performed  by  the  following  persons,  in  the  following  order ; 
Rev.  Judah  Nash  of  Montague  made  the  first  prayer ;  Rev. 
Jona.  Ashley  of  Deerfield  preached  the  Sermon  from  1  Tim. 
4:6;  Rev.  Joseph  Ashley  of  Sunderland  made  the  ordaining 
prayer ;  Rev.  David  Parsons  of  Amherst  gave  the  charge  ; 
Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins  of  Hadley  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship ;  and  Rev.  John  Hubbard  of  Northfield  made  the  conclud- 
ing prayer. 

Such  minuteness  of  detail  seems  necessary,  to  furnish  an  in- 
telligible and  characteristic  picture  of  those  early  times.  These 
acts,  and  votes,  and  method  of  procedure,  and  style  of  expres- 
sion show  us  both  the  persons  who  acted,  and  their  circumstan- 
ces ;  and  while  they  indicate  the  individual  habits  and  tastes 
then  common,  of  themselves  they  give  a  clear  exposition  of  the 
opinions  then  prevalent  on  Ecclesiastical  matters,  as  well  as  the 
doctrinal  belief  of  the  Church. 

They  show  also  the  simplicity  which  characterized  the  organ- 
ization of  a  church  in  those  days.  No  precept  was  needed  to 
issue  from  any  Hierarch  ;  but  the  people  voluntarily  assembled 
in  their  associate  capacity,  and  with  the  counsel  and  assistance 
of  neighboring  Ministers,  also  acting  voluntarily,  make  their 
penitent  confessions,  declare  publicly  their  belief  in  the  leading 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and  enter  into  Covenant  for  mutual 
edification  and  discipline — "  for  the  free  and  constant  enjoyment 
of  God's  worship  and  ordinances."  Such  was  the  Congrega- 
tionalism of  our  fathers'  time. 


13 

The  original  number  who  subscribed  and  assented  to  the 
Covenant  of  the  Church  was  41.  The  number  of  persons  ad- 
mitted to  the  Church  during  Rev.  Rufus  Wells'  pastorate,  that 
is,  up  to  1822,  was  374. — Within  this  period,  (in  1788)  a  col- 
ony comprising  about  25  church  members,  withdrew  from  the 
communion  of  this  church,  and  professed  Anti-pedobaptist  sen- 
timents. (Ch.  Rec.)  These  25,  with  about  40  others  were 
embodied  in  a  church  state  by  themselves  ;  which  was  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Baptist  Church  in  the  west  part  of  the  town.* 

The  number  received  to  the  Church  from  1822  to  1845  in- 
clusive, was  257.  Within  the  last  period,  (in  1842-3)  about 
75  members  withdrew  from  this  Church,  and  were  formed  into 
the  Second  Congregational  Church.-f  The  total  number  of 
members  received  to  Church  fellowship  from  1771  to  1845,  was 
672.     The  number  of  members  Jan.  1,  1845,  was  136. 

It  is  in  place  here  to  note  the  fact,  that  this  Church  since  its 
organization,  has  been  blessed  with  five  seasons  of  special  reli- 
gious revival  ;  in  1816,  1826,  1834,  1838,  and  1842.  Those 
of  1816  and  1826  were  the  most  extensive.  The  whole  num- 
ber received  to  the  Church  as  the  direct  fruits  of  these  five  Re- 
vivals was  about  250. 

These  statistics  include  only  such  as  were  admitted  to  the 
full  communion  of  the  Church.  A  custom  prevailed  for  some 
years  in  this  church,  as  in  other  Congregational  Churches  of 
New  England  at  that  period,  of  receiving  persons  of  good  ex- 
ternal morality  to  "  covenant  privileges,"  as  it  was  termed.  In- 
dividuals of  ordinary  standing  in  society,  who  would  acknowl- 
edge a  belief  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  as  set  forth  in  the 
Confession  of  Faith,  and  would  assent,  in  part,  to  the  Covenant, 
were  received  by  vote  as  members,  in  a  limited  sense,  of  the 
church.  They  were  regarded  as  proper  subjects  of  discipline, 
and  might  bring  complaints  against  members  in  full  communion  ; 

*The  Baptist  Church  was  constituted  May  5,  1789.  The  regularly  ordain- 
ed Pastors  have  been,  Rev.  Asa  Todd  of  Westfield,  Ordained  Sept.  9,  1789 ; 
Rev.  Stephen  Barker  of  Heath,  Installed  1807  ;  Rev.  John  R.  Goodnough,  Or- 
dained Aug.  26,  1823  ;  Rev.  Lorenzo  Rice,  Ordained  Feb  8,  1837. 

\  Organized  Nov.  10,  1842.  Rev.  Jonathan  S.  Judd  of  Westhampton,  Pas- 
tor ;  Born  Feb.  4,  1816;  Grad.  Williams  College,  1839;  Studied  Divinity  at 
E.  Windsor ;  Ordained  Oct.  12, 1843.     Number  of  Members,  Jan  1, 1848, 105. 


14 

ihey  had  the  privilege  of  Baptism  for  themselves  and  families  ; 
but  were  debarred  from  the  communion  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

This  was  not  in  accordance  with  the  original  Church  Plat- 
form of  New  England.  The  first  Puritans  were  stern  opposers 
of  this  practice  as  it  had  existed  in  the  mother  country.  They 
believed,  that  when  a  man  is  "  born  again,"  a  change  is  wrought 
in  him,  of  which  it  is  possible  for  him  and  others  to  find  evi- 
dence. They  held  that  the  regenerate  differ  from  the  unregen- 
erate  by  the  possession  of  some  substantial  good  qualities,  which 
must  show  themselves  in  thought  and  action.  With  such  views 
of  Christian  character,  and  regarding  as  they  did,  the  church  as 
Christ's  flock — "  a  peculiar  people,"  it  was  natural  that  they 
should  admit  none  to  their  Communion,  except  those  who  might, 
"  in  charitable  discretion,"  be  considered  regenerate  persons. 

But  in  time  laxer  notions  began  to  prevail.  Partly  from  the 
practice  of  requiring  church-membership  as  a  qualification  for 
civil  office  ;  and  partly  through  the  influence  of  emigrants  be- 
longing to  the  Established  Church,  the  New  England  churches 
gradually  receded  from  their  original  standard.  The  Synod  of 
1662  decided,  that  persons  baptized  in  infancy,  "understanding 
the  doctrine  of  faith,  and  publicly  professing  their  assent  there- 
unto ;  not  scandalous  in  life,  and  solemnly  owning  the  covenant 
before  the  church,  wherein  they  give  up  themselves  and  their 
children  to  the  Lord,  and  subject  themselves  to  the  government 
of  Christ  in  the  church — their  children  are  to  be  baptized  ;" 
though  the  parent  thus  owning  the  covenant  was  avowedly  yet 
unregenerate,  and  as  such  was  excluded  from  the  Lord's  Supper. 
Taking  advantage  of  the  sanction  of  this  Synod,  the  practice 
was  immediately  adopted  in  many  churches  ;  and  after  pro- 
tracted and  violent  controversy,  became  general.* 

This  method  of  admission  to  "  church  privileges,"  sometimes 
called  the  "  half  way  covenant,"  appears  to  have  obtained  in 
this  church  from  its  first  organization  ;  though  no  formal  expres- 
sion of  belief  on  the  subject  is  recorded  till  1778.  The  follow- 
ing votes  were  evidently  intended  as  a  declaration  of  the  senti- 
ments of  the  church  on  this  matter. 

"Tracy's  Great  Awakening. 


15 

At  a  meeting  of  the  church  of  Christ  in  Whately,  Jan'y  ye 
7,  177S,  the  meeting  being  opened  with  prayer,  the  church 
passed  the  following  votes. 

1.  Voted,  That  infants  are  introduced  into  covenant  by 
Baptism. 

N.  B.  For  the  understanding  the  above  vote,  let  it  be  ob- 
served, that  though  infants  of  believing  parents  are  born  into 
covenant,  yet  it  is  by  baptism  that  they  are  declared  to  be  within 
the  church,  and  entitled  to  the  visible  privileges  of  it.  Persons 
may  be  virtually  in  covenant  by  their  own,  or  their  parent's 
faith  ;  but  they  are  not  visibly  and  professedly  in  covenant  or 
in  the  church,  till  they  have  passed  under  the  appointed  seal  or 
visible  mark  of  discipleship,  which  under  the  second  Dispensa- 
tion is  Baptism. 

By  Infants  being  introduced  into  covenant  by  Baptism,  may 
be  understood,  that  they  have  the  visible  mark  of  Christ's  family 
upon  them,  and  are  visibly  and  professedly  subjects  of  the 
household  of  faith  ;  and  are  to  be  treated  as  members  of  Christ's 
church,  that  are  declared  members,  and  have  a  right  to  the 
visible  privileges  of  it. 

2.  Voted,  That  all  baptized  persons  at  a  suitable  age  are 
proper  subjects  of  church  Discipline. 

3.  Voted,  That  such  persons  as  come  to  full  communion  with 
the  church,  shall  be  of  competent  knowledge,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  Pastor ;  that  they  publicly  profess  their  faith,  and  consent 
to  the  church  Covenant. 

These  votes  (in  spite  of  their  verbal  redundancy)  appear  to 
contain  what  was  considered  a  definition  of  the  import  of  Bap- 
tism ;  and  a  statement  of  the  distinction  between  those  who 
were  entitled  to  "  church  privileges,"  and  those  who  might 
"  come  to  full  communion."  Baptism  was  not  regarded  as  a 
converting  ordinance,  but  as  an  important  means  of  grace  ;  so 
important  that  all  should  desire  to  avail  themselves  of  its  advan- 
tages. In  some  sense,  and  by  some  virtue,  it  brought  the  sub- 
ject "  into  covenant."  Those  baptized  in  infancy,  it  would 
appear,  were  thus  considered  as  introduced  to  the  church,  and 
at  a  suitable  age  were  to  be  "  entitled  to  the  visible  privileges" 
of  it,  and  to  become  the  subjects  of  church  discipline, — though 


16 

practically,  a  formal  vote  was  taken  on  their  admission,  as  in 
the  case  of  others.  Only  persons  of  competent  knowledge,  who 
should  make  public  profession  of  faith,  and  consent  to  the 
church  covenant,  might  be  received  to  full  communion.  If  the 
word  "  knowledge"  was  used  in  its  scriptural  sense,  (1  Tim. 
2  :  4)  the  standard  of  admission  to  full  membership  was  nomin- 
ally in  accordance  with  the  faith  of  the  Pilgrim  fathers.  But 
probably  it  was  given  a  much  broader  signification. 

This  practice  of  baptism  under  the  half  way  covenant  con- 
tinued to  prevail  in  this  church  for  45  years.  As  was  natural, 
most  heads  of  families  became  connected  with  the  church.  The 
circumstances  of  its  abolition  may  be  learned  by  the  following 
extract  from  the  Church  Records.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Cong. 
Church  of  Christ  in  Whately,  March  18,  1816,  duly  notified 
and  warned  by  the  desire  of  Brother  Joel  Wait,  the  meeting 
being  opened  with  prayer  by  the  moderator,  Brother  Joel  Wait 
stated  that  it  was  matter  of  grief  and  offence  to  him,  that  this 
church  admitted  persons  to  the  privilege  of  baptism  for  their 
children  upon  professing  their  belief  of  the  doctrines  of  the 
Gospel,  and  consenting  in  part  to  the  church  covenant,  and  yet 
neglected  to  attend  upon  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper — 
when  he  conceived  that  this  practice  was  not  countenanced  by 
the  word  of  God. 

The  brethren  having  conversed  upon  the  subject,  the  follow- 
ing questions  were  put  to  the  church,  viz. 

1.  Is  it  scriptural  to  admit  persons  to  the  privilege  of  baptism 
for  their  children,  upon  professing  their  belief  of  the  doctrines 
of  the  Gospel,  and  consenting  to  the  church  covenant  in  part, 
and  yet  neglect  to  attend  upon  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  ?     And  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

2.  Shall  the  practice  of  so  admitting  persons  to  the  privilege 
of  baptism  for  their  children,  be  abolished  and  set  aside  in  this 
church  ?  And  it  passed  unanimously  in  the  affirmative.  The 
meeting  was  then  closed  with  prayer  by  the  Pastor,  and  dissolved. 

Attest,  Rufus  Wells,  Pastor. 

Thus  did  the  church  voluntarily  free  herself  from  a  custom  of 
dangerous  tendency,  and  become  in  practice,  what  her  Creed  and 
Covenant  had  always  been  in  doctrine,  a  church  of  the  Puritans. 


It  is  worthy  of  note,  that  the  next  entry  on  the  church  Rec- 
ords, acknowledges  "  the  grace  of  God  in  causing  a  stirring  and 
a  shaking  among  the  dry  bones,"  which  as  we  have  seen,  result- 
ed in  an  extensive  Revival,  and  the  ingathering  of  about  70  to 
the  church. 

Thus  had  passed  45  years  of  our  church  existence.  It  had 
been  a  period,  in  the  nation  at  large,  of  political  Revolution  ;  of 
difficulties,  doubts  and  darkness,  and  some  bright  points.  So- 
ciety had  been,  once  wholly,  and  a  second  time  partially,  bro- 
ken up,  and  remodeled.  One  generation  was  passed  away,  and 
another  had  come.  The  church  necessarily  felt  the  power  of 
many  of  these  changes,  and  social  re-formations.  With  us,  the 
children  had  taken  the  place  of  their  fathers  ;  and  the  children's 
children  were  crowding  their  way  upon  the  stage.  And  though 
in  some  parts  of  our  State,  religious  opinions  and  doctrinal  be- 
lief had  greatly  changed,  and  evidently  for  the  worse  ;  yet  the 
change  in  these  respects  among  ourselves  was  a  decided  im- 
provement. 

The  first  pastor  of  the  church,  Rev.  Rufus  Wells,*  still  re- 
mained at  his  post,  though  he  had  once  been  temporarily  laid 
•aside  from  active  labor  by  sickness.  He  continued  to  discharge 
in  full  the  duties  of  Pastor  till  1822,  a  period  of  50  years,  when 
the  infirmities  of  age,  then  apparently  about  to  break  down  his 
constitution,  induced  him  and  the  people  to  seek  a  Colleague. 
At  the  same  time  he  consented  to  a  reduction  of  100  dollars 
from  his  yearly  salary.  After  this  date,  however,  he  recovered 
in  a  measure  his  strength,  and  would  occasionally  exercise  the 
functions  of  his  office,  till  near  the  time  of  his  death.  His  last 
(recorded)  public  act,  was  the  marriage  of  his  grand  daughter 
Miss  Sarah  Wells  to  Mr.  Silas  Rice,  Nov.  8,  1831.  The  entry 
of  this  in  the  Church  Record  in  his  own  hand,  now  tremulous 
and  uncertain,  forms  a  striking  contrast  to  the  plain,  bold  pen- 
manship of  his  early  prime.  He  died  Nov.  8,  1834,  in  the  92d 
year  of  his  age.     The  Sermon   at  his   funeral  was  preached  by 


^Graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1764.  Licensed  by  Hamp.  Association, 
Nov.  1769.  Married,  1st,  Sarah  Porter  of  Ashfield,  Dec.  16,  1776 ;  2d,  Mrs. 
Temperance  Shepherd,  (Miss  Gale)  of  Sharon,  Ct.  Jan.  14,  1802. 

3 


18 

Rev.  Nathan  Perkins  of  Amherst,  who  was  then  the  oldest  sur- 
vivor of  Mr.  Wells'  particular  associates. 

It  would  be  foreign  to  my  purpose  to  give  an  extended  analy- 
sis of  the  character  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wells.  Let  it  suffice  to  say, 
that  as  a  preacher,  he  held  a  respectable  rank  among  his  co- 
temporaries  ;  as  a  pastor,  he  was  pre-eminently  a  peace-maker  ; 
as  a  man,  he  was  very  affable,  and  of  good  social  qualities.  He 
made  no  enemies,  and  was  kind  and  faithful  to  his  friends. 

In  the  course  of  his  ministry,  Mr.  Wells  married  305  couples  ; 
and  administered  baptism  to  956  persons.  He  wrote  about  3000 
sermons  ;  a  few  of  which  were  printed.  His  last  sermon,  writ- 
ten probably  with  no  idea  that  it  would  be  the  last,  was  on  Heb. 
4,  9  :  "  There  remaineth  therefore  a  rest  to  the  people  of  God." 

But  to  return  to  the  thread  of  our  narrative.  At  a  town 
meeting  held  Dec.  21,  1821,  Capt.  Salmon  Graves  moderator, 
it  was  voted,  to  give  Mr.  Lemuel  P.  Bates*  (of  Southampton) 
a  call  to  settle  in  the  Gospel  Ministry  as  colleague  pastor  with 
the  Rev.  Rufus  Wells.  Voted,  to  give  Mr.  Bates  350  dollars 
salary  per  year,  during  Rev.  Mr.  Wells'  natural  life  ;  and  450 
dollars  per  year  during  his  ministry  with  us  after  the  decease  of 
Mr.  Wells. 

Voted,  To  give  Mr.  Bates  500  dollars  Settlement,  to  be  paid 
in  three  annual  installments  ;  and  if  he  leave  us  before  the  three 
years  are  expired,  he  draws  only  in  proportion  to  the  time  he 
preaches  with  us. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Bates  have  the  privilege  of  being  dismissed, 
by  giving  the  Town  one  year's  notice  ;  and  the  Town  have  the 
privilege  of  dismissing  Mr.  Bates  by  giving  him  one  year's  no- 
tice ;  provided  either  party  holds  that  mind  during  the  year. 
This  last  vote  was  the  occasion  of  some  distrust  on  the  part  of 
the  ordaining  Council.  Dr.  Lyman  of  Hatfield  warmly  protest- 
ed against  the  conditions  therein  implied  ;  and  it  was  not  till  the 
parties  concerned  declared  it  as  their  understanding,  "  that  Mr. 
Bates  could  not  be  dismissed  without  the  advice  of  an  Ecclesi- 
astical Council,"  that  the  council  consented  to  proceed  to  the 
examination  of  the  candidate. 

"Graduated  at  Williams  College,  1818  ;  Studied  Theology  at  Princeton 


19 

Mr.  Bates  was  ordained  Feb.  13,  1822.  The  order  of  exer- 
cises was  as  follows  :  Introductory  prayer,  by  Rev.  James  Tay- 
lor of  Sunderland  ;  Sermon  by  Rev.  Zephaniah  Swift  Moore, 
D.  D.  President  of  Amherst  College  ;  Consecrating  prayer,  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Lyman  of  Hatfield  ;  Charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev. 
John  Emerson  of  Conway  ;  Right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev. 
Wm.  B.  Sprague  of  West  Springfield ;  Charge  to  the  people  by 
Rev.  Henry  Lord  of  Williamsburg  ;  concluding  prayer  by  Rev. 
Vinson  Gould  of  Southampton. 

It  is  a  facts  omewhat  remarkable,  that  one  of  the  above  Coun- 
cil, Rev.  John  Emerson  of  Conway,  was  a  member  of  the 
Council  which  ordained  Rev.  Mr.  Wells,  the  first  pastor  of  the 
church,  50  years  before. 

By  the  terms  of  his  settlement,  Mr.  Bates  could  claim  but 
350  dollars  annual  salary ;  the  senior  pastor  still  living.  But 
in  1828,  '29,  and  '32,  the  Parish  (which  was  organized  sepa- 
rate from  the  Town,  April  30,  1828)  granted  him  100  dollars 
additional.  He  held  the  office  of  pastor  for  the  term  of  ten 
years  ;  was  dismissed  Oct.  17,  1832. 

After  the  dismission  of  Rev.  L.  P.  Bates,  the  church  remained 
destitute  of  a  pastor  for  four  years  ;  though  the  pulpit  was  reg- 
ularly supplied  the  while,  by  various  ministers  and  candidates. 

The  third  Pastor  was  Rev.  John  Ferguson,  of  Dunns,  Scot- 
land ;  previously  settled  in  Attleboro'.  The  terms  of  his  settle- 
ment were  500  dollars  annual  salary  ;  with  the  condition,  "  that 
the  existing  connexion  may  be  dissolved  at  the  pleasure  of  eith- 
er party,  by  an  Ecclesiastical  Council."  He  was  installed  March 
16,  1836  ;  was  dismissed  June  17,  1840. 

The  church  now  continued  without  a  settled  Ministry  five 
years.  The  fourth,  and  present  pastor,  Rev.  J.  Howard  Tem- 
ple, was  ordained  Sept.  30,  1845. 

Deacons.  The  persons  who  have  held  the  office  of  Deacon 
in  this  church  since  its  organization,  are  the  following:  Nathan 
Graves,  elected  Oct.  16,  1771,  (Oliver  Graves  was  chosen  at 
the  same  time,  but  declined  serving.)  Salmon  White,  elected 
April  16,  1773.  Thomas  Sanderson,  elected  June  14,  1786. 
Levi  Moreton,  elected  Dec.  17,  1800,     John  White  and  Elcazar 


20 

Frary,  elected  March  22,  1810,  (though  there  is  no  record  of 
Mr.  Frary's  acceptance.)  James  Smith  and  Justus  White, 
elected  July  1,  1821.  David  Sanders,  elected  May  12,  1836. 
Reuben  H.  Belden  and  Elial  A.  Dickinson,  elected  February 
27,  1843. 

The  Meeting  House.  At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
church,  and  settlement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wells,  no  Meeting  House 
had  been  built.  The  people  first  met  for  religious  worship  in 
the  dwelling  house  of  Oliver  Morton.  The  meetings  were  held 
here  for  perhaps  two  years.  Dec.  2,  1771,  the  Town  voted. 
To  allow  Oliver  Morton  three  pounds  for  his  house  to  meet  in  for 
the  term  of  one  year.  March  6,  1774,  voted  To  pay  Mr.  Mor- 
ton one  pound  ten  shillings  for  the  use  of  his  house  six  months. 
Meetings  for  Public  Worship  were  also  held  for  a  time,  perhaps 
a  year,  at  the  house  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wells  ;  the  town,  as  compen- 
sation, agreeing  to  assist  him  in  finishing  his  house. 

December  2, 1771,  a  vote  was  passed,  To  make  provision  for 
a  Meeting  House.  A  committee,  consisting  of  David  Scott, 
Thomas  Crafts,  Joseph  Belding,  Jr.  Noah  Rardwell,  and  David 
Graves,  Jr.  was  appointed  at  the  same  time,  to  carry  out  the 
above  vote.  At  a  meeting  a  few  weeks  later,  the  town  instruct- 
ed the  above  committee  to  provide  four  thousand  feet  of  pine 
boards,  clapboards,  window  frames  and  sash,  and  timber  suf- 
ficient for  said  meeting  house.  The  timber  was  cut  wherever  it 
could  be  easiest  procured.  The  boards  and  joist  were  sawed  at 
the  mill  of  Adonijah  Taylor,  where  Silas  Sanderson's  mills  are 
now  located.* 

The  next  spring  (March  30,  1772)  the  town  voted,  To  pro- 
vide shingles  this  present  year  for  the  meeting  house.  These 
were  purchased  at  about  ten  shillings  per  thousand.  In  the  fall 
of  this  year  (Oct.  5,  1772)  it  was  voted,  That  the  meeting  house 
be  set  up  next  spring.  It  was  also  voted  at  the  same  time,  That 
the  meeting  house  be  placed  in  the  "  Chestnut  plain  street "  (so 

*  A.  T.  built  a.  Grist  and  Saw  Mill  here,  which  were  the  first  mills  erected 
in  Whately.  The  Saw  mill  stood  whore  the  present  mills  are  ;  the  grist  mill 
was  some  distance  below.  Afterwards,  a  grist  mill  was  built  some  distance 
abovp  the  present  saw  mill. 


21 

called,)  at  the  most  convenient  place  between  the  dwelling- 
house  of  Oliver  Morton,  and  that  of  Rufus  Wells,  V.  D.  M.  in 
Whately.  Salmon  White,  Edward  Brown,  Oliver  Graves,  Joseph 
Belding,  Jr.  and  David  Scott,  were  chosen  Building  Committee. 
The  spot  they  selected  was  where  the  present  meeting  house  of 
1st  Parish  stands.  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  to  raise 
eighty  pounds  to  build  said  meeting  house,  the  money  to  be 
levied  by  tax  on  the  ratable  polls  and  property  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  a  few  months  later,  it  was  voted,  To 
build  one  porch  to  the  meeting  house ;  though  the  vote  was- 
never  carried  into  effect. 

During  the  winter  of  1772-3,  the  timber  and  materials  were 
collected,  and  at  a  meeting  held  May  10,  1773,  the  town 
granted  additional  money,  and  voted  that  David  Scott  be  master- 
workman  to  frame  the  house.  The  building  was  framed  by  what 
was  called  the  "  try  rule,"  or  the  rule  of  six,  eight  and  ten  ;  i.  e. 
the  sills,  posts  and  beams  were  framed  and  tried,  and  the  braces 
were  laid  on  to  mark  their  bevels  and  length.  (Master  Scott's 
prime  precept  was,  "  Make  great  mortises  and  little  tenons,  and 
your  work  will  go  together  charming  easy  /")  In  the  course  of 
the  two  following  months,  the  house  was  framed,  raised,  and 
partially  covered.  At  a  town  meeting  held  July  8,  1773,  it 
was  voted,  To  raise  forty  pounds  to  go  on  and  finish  the  meeting, 
house.  The  "  finish  "  then  put  on,  however,  was  not  of  the 
highest  order,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  particular  description  which 
follows  : — On  the  outside,  the  roof  was  well  shingled,  though 
it  had  no  steeple  or  tower  ;  the  sides  and  ends  were  covered 
with  rough  boards,  chamfered  together.  The  windows  in  the 
lower  story  were  pretty  fully  glazed  ;  those  in  the  upper  story 
were  boarded  up.  There  were  three  doors  to  the  house,  one 
each  on  the  north,  east,  and  south  sides — that  on  the  east  side 
being  reckoned  the  front  door.  These  were  made  of  rough 
boards,  and  not  very  tightly  fitted.  Thus  uniform  was  the  cov- 
ering upon  the  outside.  The  inside  had  no  "  finish  "  at  all,  ex- 
cept a  ground  floor.  The  sides  were  destitute  of  both  plaster- 
ing and  laths,  and  the  frame   work  of   the  galleries,  the  beams. 


22 

girths  and  rafters  were  all  naked.  A  rough  board  Pulpit,  raised 
a  few  feet,  was  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  west  side.  Directly 
in  front  of  the  pulpit,  a  carpenter's  work  bench  was  left.  The 
seat  which  was  placed  before  this  bench  was  claimed  by  the  old 
ladies,  that  they  might  hear  better,  and  have  a  support  for  the 
back.  The  seats  were  nothing  more  than  low  slab  forms  ;  these 
were  arranged  without  much  regard  to  order,  and  were  free  to 
all.  After  some  years,  Mr.  Wells  nailed  up  a  couple  of  boards, 
on  the  left  of  the  pulpit,  for  the  better  accommodation  of  his 
wife  ;  and  a  sort  of  pew,  or  bench  with  a  back  fixed  to  it,  was 
fitted  up  by  a  few  of  the  young  men,  on  the  east  side,  near  the 
door,  capable  of  seating  6  or  8  persons. 

The  house  remained  in  this  state,  24  or  25  years.  During 
this  time,  it  was  hardly  more  respectable  in  appearance  or  more 
comfortable,  than  an  ordinary  single  boarded  barn.  In  winter, 
drifting  snows  found  easy  entrance  ;  and  in  summer,  the  Swal- 
lows, in  great  numbers,  were  accustomed  to  fly  in,  and  build 
their  mud  nests  on  the  plates  and  rafters.  On  the  Sabbath, 
these  social  little  intruders,  twittering  as  merrily  as  ever,  seemed 
entirely  regardless  of  the  people  below  ;  plainly  having  it  for 
their  maxim,  to  mind  their  oivn  business,  however  much  the 
minds  and  eyes  of  those  below  might  be  attracted  to  themselves. 
It  is  said  that  during  the  few  months  of  their  annual  stay,  Mr. 
Wells  seldom  or  never  exchanged  with  his  brethren  of  other 
towns — giving  as  a  reason,  that  he  feared  the  swallows,  to  which 
habit  had  familiarized  him,  would  be  too  great  an  annoyance  to 
strangers.  He  could  say  with  the  Psalmist,  "  The  sparrow  hath 
found  a  house,  and  the  swallow  a  nest  for  herself,  where  she  may 
Hay  her  young,  even  thine  altars,  O  Lord  of  Hosts." 

There  were  two  reasons  which  prevented  the  further  comple- 
tion of  the  meeting  house.  The  first  was,  the  war  of  the  Rev- 
olution, which  broke  out  soon  after  the  town  was  incorporated. 
This  for  some  years  absorbed  the  chief  attention  of  the  com- 
munity, and  the  taxes  levied  to  support  it  drained  the  people  of 
money.  The  other  reason  was,  a  division  of  sentiment  about 
the  location  of  the  house.  A  part  demanded  that  it  should  be 
moved  half  a  mile  to  the  south  west,  to  a  spot  south  of  "  Spruce 


23 

Hill,"  (in  the  lot  now  owned  by  Rev.  John  Ferguson  ;)  and  a 
majority  insisted  that  it  should  remain  on  the  old  spot.  Many 
votes  were  passed,  and  afterwards  reconsidered.  Many  expedi- 
ents were  devised  by  both  parties.  Numerous  committees,  both 
of  the  town's  people,  and  of  disinterested  men  from  abroad, 
were  appointed  on  this  question,  with  various  results.  At  the 
town  meeting  in  March,  1788,  a  vote  was  passed,  and  insisted 
on,  To  raise  70  pounds  to  repair  the  meeting  house.  This  led 
to  the  drawing  up  of  the  following  "  Protest,"  which  was  pre- 
sented to  the  town  at  a  meeting  in  April  : — "  We  the  subscrib- 
ers, the  people  of  the  westerly  part  of  the  town  of  Whately, 
whose  names  are  under  written,  do  enter  a  protest  to  this  meet- 
ing, April  10,  1788,  against  the  proceedings  of  the  other  parts 
of  the  town,  that  is,  in  finishing  up  the  meeting  house  in  the 
place  where  it  now  stands.  For  we  have  been  to  the  cost  of 
having  a  committee,  to  determine  where  the  just  spot  for  the 
meeting  house  to  stand  is,  who  determined  in  the  centre  of  the 
town  ;  and  there  we  are  willing  to  finish  it  up,  and  no  where 
else."      (Signed  by  17  voters.) 

This  Protest  not  being  heeded,  the  signers  and  others  with- 
drew, and  formed  a  new  Society.  They  afterwards  erected  a 
meeting  house,  on  the  "  Poplar  Hill  road,"  (so  called.)  This 
as  before  stated,  was  the  origin  of  the  1st  Baptist  Society  of 
Whately. 

Although  the  town  voted,  at  this  date,  to  raise  money  to  re- 
pair the  meeting  house,  it  does  not  appear  that  any  funds  were 
actually  expended  for  this  purpose  till  1797.  The  70  pounds 
was  paid  to  Mr.  Wells  for  arrearages  of  his  salary.*  Various 
monies  were  raised,  in  different  years,  for  repairs  ;  and  then  oth- 
erwise expended. 

Dec.  5,  1796,  the  town  voted,  To  raise  300  pounds  for  re- 
pairing the  meeting  house,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  carry 
out  the  vote.  In  January  following,  20  pounds  additional  was 
granted ;  and  in  the  spring  the  work  was  commenced.     In  the 


*  So  scrupulous  were  the  people  of  those  days  to  pay  their  minister,  that  in 
one  year,  the  town  voted  to  take  the  money  which  had  been  raised  for  School- 
ing, and  apply  it  to  make  up  a  deficiency  in  Mr.  Wells'  salary. 


24 

course  of  the  year,  (1797,)  the  house  was  thoroughly  repaired. 
The  outside  was  clapboarded,  and  painted  ;  the  vacant  windows 
of  the  upper  story,  which  had  afforded  access  to  the  Swallows 
for  so  many  years,  were  glazed  ;  and  paneled  doors  were  put 
in.  The  inside  was  also  "  finished  ;"  galleries  were  put  up,  and 
pews  built.  The  pews  were  square,  enclosed  with  paneled 
work,  according  to  the  fashion  of  the  times.  The  Pulpit,  situa- 
ted as  before,  was  a  plain  structure,  very  high,  square  corners, 
and  projecting  centre,  with  a  hexagonal  sounding  board  suspen- 
ded above. 

No  formal  consecration  of  the  house  appears  to  have  been 
made,  at  its  first  opening  in  1773.  But  now  that  it  had  been 
made  more  seemly,  a  day  was  specially  set  apart,  and  it  was 
solemnly  dedicated  to  God. 

At  the  town  meeting  held  Dec.  4,  1797,  it  was  voted  "  not 
to  sell  the  pews  ;"  and  instead,  a  committee  of  nine  persons 
was  chosen,  "  to  seat  the  meeting  house,"  i.  e.  to  assign  to  each 
family  the  particular  pew  they  were  to  occupy  for  a  year,  or 
longer,  as  the  case  might  be.  The  principle  of  "  seating,"  at 
first  adopted,  is  not  known.  The  practice  prevailed  in  some 
years,  of  seating  by  age,  and  sometimes  by  properly.  At  a  town 
meeting,  held  May  19,  1800,  it  was  voted,  "  That  in  seating 
people,  one  year  in  the  age  of  a  person,  shall  be  reckoned  equal 
to  one  dollar  on  the  list."  This  custom,  which  prevailed  for  up- 
wards of  20  years,  was  the  occasion  of  much  strife,  and  many 
lealousies  and  heartburnings.  Individuals  and  families  disliking 
their  seat-mates,  would  sometimes  absent  themselves  entirely 
from  meeting  ;  and  in  one  instance,  an  individual  made  an  ap- 
peal to  the  town  at  a  regular  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  ;  and  a 
vote  was  passed,  assigning  him  a  given  pew.  The  pews  and  in- 
ternal fixtures  erected  at  this  time,  remained  in  the  same  state 
and  fashion,  till  1843. 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  the  town  voted  to  sell  the  pews  in  the 
meeting  house  ;  and  in  this  and  the  following  years,  a  large  num- 
ber of  them  was  sold.  Of  the  avails  of  this  sale  of  pews,  a 
steeple  was  built  upon  the  south  end  of  the  house,  and  a  bell 
purchased.    This  was  done  in  1821-2.    The  people  now  for  the 


25 

first  time,  heard  the  sound  of  the  "  church  going  bell."  In  the 
early  days  of  the  town,  perhaps  till  1798,  it  was  customary  to 
call  the  people  together  on  the  Sabbath,  by  blowing  a  Conch.* 
It  was  blown  once,  an  hour  before  the  time  of  service  ;  and 
again  as  the  minister  was  approaching  the  house.  From  1798 
to  1822,  no  public  signal  was  given  ;  the  people  assembling  at 
their  pleasure. 

In  1843,  the  meeting  house  was  entirely  re-modeled — though 
the  original  frame  erected  by  Master  Scott  in  1773,  being  found 
perfectly  sound,  was  left  unaltered. 

Such  is  a  brief  history  of  our  Church  and  House  of  worship. 
On  some  points  of  interest,  the  information  now  to  be  obtained  is 
much  too  scanty  ;  what  we  know  only  excites  the  desire  to  find 
out  more.  And  in  this  narrative,  many  things  known,  have  been 
omitted  from  design,  as  being  of  too  personal  a  character,  or  of 
importance  only  in  their  day.  Enough  however  has  been  recor- 
ded, I  think,  to  make  us  sensible,  that,  in  contrast  with  the  times 
of  our  fathers,  "  the  lines  are  fallen  unto  us  in  pleasant  places ; 
yea,  we  have  a  goodly  heritage."  We  see  much  in  their  char- 
acters and  acts  to  admire,  and  some  things  to  disapprove.  But 
if  our  fathers  have  erred,  rather  than  to  reproach  them,  let  us 
do  better  ourselves.  And  in  view  of  past  and  present  mercies, 
let  us  "  bless  the  Lord,"  and  fully  choose  Him  as  "  the  portion 
of  our  inheritance." 

"The  identical  shell  is  now  in  possession  of  Calvin  Wells. 


A  P  P  E  N  « I  X. 


ORIGINAL  SETTLERS  OF  WHATELY  : 
With  brief  Notices  of  their  Family  History. 

Ebenezer  Bardwell.  In  1752  or  3,  he  built  a  house  where  is 
now  an  orchard,  southwest  of  Randall  Graves'  ;  he  sold  out  to 
David  Scott,   and   built  the  Gideon  Dickinson  house ;    afterwards 

lived  on  Staddle  Hill.      He  m.  Elizabeth  ;   had  children, 

Violet,  b.  Dec.  29,  1731  ;  Ebenezer,  b,  June  24,  1733  ;  Elizabeth, 
b.  Feb.  1734-5 ;  Samuel ;  Perez.     He  died  Nov.  J  4,  1789,  aged  82. 

Noah  Bardwell,  (son  of  Remembrance  and  Hannah,)  b.  April 
20,  1748.  He  built  at  the  corner  of  Roads  west  of  S.  W.  School 
house.  He  m.  Lucy  Wait,  b.  Nov.  12,  1749.  Their  children  were, 
Orange,  b.  Oct.  4,  1769;  Alinda,  b.  March  11,  1771  ;  Clarissa,  b. 
Jan.  26,  1773;  Chester,  b.  Sept.  1,  1774;  Charles,  b.  Sept.  27, 
1776 ;  Cotton,  b  Feb.  9,  1779  ;  Noah,  b.  Feb.  4,  1781  ;  Clarissa, 
b.  Dec.  23,  1782;  Lucinda  and  Aminda,  b.  July  29,  17S4;  Justin, 
b.  Nov.  2,  1786 ;  Cotton,  b.  May  25,  1788  ;  Justin,  b.  April  3, 
1790  ;  Spencer,  b.  Dec.  19,  1792  :  Lucy,  b.  Jan.  30,  1795..  He  d. 
March  13,  1S28  ;  his  w.  Lucy  d.  Sept.  11,  1S33. 

Joseph  Belding.     He  settled  where  Zebina  Bartlett  now  lives. 

His  first  wife  was  Esther ;  their  children  were,  Abagail,  b. 

Sept.  22,  1721  ;  Sarah,  b.  Feb.  1,  1722-3;  Paul,  b.  Nov.  17,  1724. 
His  second  w.  was  Margaret  Gillctt,  (m.  July  13,  1727:)  their  chil- 
children  were,  Margaret,  b.  May  11,  1732;  Abagail,  b.  Feb.  13, 
1733-4;  Joseph,  b.  Oct.  31,  1735;  Paul,  b.  Dec".  13,  1737.  He 
d.  Oct.  1778,  aged  83.  His  w.  Esther  d.  Nov.  17,  1724  ;  his  w. 
Margaret  d.  March  1785,  aged  88.  (It  is  a  current  tradition,  that 
this  and  the  other  families  that  originally  settled  in  the  "  Straits," 
were  forced  to  abandon  their  houses  for  a  time,  through  fear  of  the 
Indians.  Possibly  their  first  attempt  was  made  as  early  as  1740. 
Possibly  they  did  not  take  up  a  permanent  residence  there  till  1752 
or  3 ;  i.  e.  till  settlements  began  to  be  made  in  the  central  part  of 
the  town.) 

Joshua  Belding,  b.  Oct.  29,  1733.  About  1765  he  settled  on 
the  old  Reuben  Belding  place.  He  in.  Anna  Fitch:  had  children, 
Stephen,  b.  April  19,  1758;  Anna,  b.  Feb.  15,  1760:  Anna,  b. 
July  22,  1761  ;  Lucy,  b.  Feb.  17,  1763;  Lena,  b.  Oct.  18,  1764  ; 
Joshua,  b.  June  17,  1766;  Lena,  b.  Aug.  5,  1769;  Stephen,  b. 
March  6,  1771 ;  Augustus,  b.  Feb.  2S,  1773;  Francis,  b.  Sept.  15, 
1775;  Reuben,  b.  Jan.  3,  1778;  Seth,  b.  Feb.  12,  1780;  Aaron, 


27 

b.  Jan.  22,  1782.  He  d.  Sept.  20,  1805;  his  w.  Anna  d.  Nov.  2, 
1819,  aged  80.  (The  father  of  Joshua  was  Joshua,  who  m.  Sarah 
Field,  i)ec.  1,  1725.  Their  children  were,  Stephen,  b.  Sept.  26, 
1726;  Lucy,  b.  March  7,  1728-9;  Joshua;  Elisha;  Jabez,  b.  April 
10,  1738.)     The  present  generation  spell  the  name  Belden. 

Elisha  Belding,  (brother  of  Joshua,)  b.  March  28,  1736.  Pre- 
vious to  1771,  he  built  a  house  near  where  Jehu  P.  Dickinson  now 
lives.  He  m.  Ruth  Dickinson ;  had  children,  Elisha,  b.  March  23, 
1765 ;  Mary,  b.  Nov.  8,  1766  ;  David,  b.  May  2,  1769 ;  Sarah,  b. 
April  15,  1772 ;  Mercy,  b.  Dec.  15,  1774  ;  Dickinson,  b.  Sept.  2, 
1777  ;  Dickinson,  b.  June  15,  1778.  He  d.  Aug.  2,  1808  ;  his  w. 
Ruth  d.  July  12,  1825,  aged  84. 

Edward  Brown,  was  from  Colchester,  Ct. ;  built  a  house  north 
of  Dea.  Daniel  Brown's.  He  and  his  sons  owned  lands  in  the 
westerly  part  of  the  town,  extending  one  mileN.  and  S.  Wife,  Han- 
nah -,  children,  William,  b.  1742  ;  Hannah,  b.  1744  ;  Josiah,  b.  1745 ; 
John,  b.  1747  ;  Mary,  b.  174S  ;  Isaiah,  b.  1750  ;  Anne,  b.  1751  ; 
Abijah,  b.  1753  ;  Charity,  b.  1754.  He  d.  June  2,  1803,  aged  87 ; 
his  w.  Hannah  d.  Oct.  12,  1811,  aged  89. 

Richard  Chauncey.  Lived  with  Jonathan  Smith.  He  d.  Dec. 
31,  1790,  aged  82 ;  his  w.  Elizabeth  d.  May  22,  1790,  aged  82. 

Nathaniel  Coleman.  He  settled  on  the  place  now  owned  by 
by  Benj.  Dane.  He  m.  Anna,  d.  of  Benoni  Dickinson  ;  had  child- 
ren, Ruth ;  Benoni  Dickinson,  b.  Nov.  14,  1775  ;  Ruth,  b.  Feb. 
24,  1778  ;  Mehitable,  b.  Nov.  14,  1780 ;  Anna,  b.  May  12,  1783. 
He  d.  Sept.  14,  1816,  aged  73. 

Thomas  Crafts,  (son  of  John  and  Martha  Crafts.)  In  1752 
or  3,  he  built  where  Dexter  Crafts  now  lives.  He  m.  Sarah  Graves ; 
their  children  were,  John,  b.  Jan.  7,  1743;  Joseph,  b.  Nov.  4,  1745; 
Martha,  b.  May  27,  1747  :  Moses,  b.  May  7,  1749  ;  Sarah,  b.  July 
16,  1751  ;  Miriam,  b.  Dec.  10,  1753  ;  Rhoda,  b.  Feb.  14,  1756  ; 
Graves,  b.  Oct.  26,  1759  ;  Seth,  b.  Oct.  21,  1762.  He  d.  Feb.  4, 
1803,  aged  85 ;  his  w.  Sarah  d.  Jan.  18,  1803,  aged  85. 

Benoni  Crafts,  (br.  of  Thomas,)  b.  Nov.  17,  1725.  He  built 
where  Asa  Crafts  now  lives.  He  m.tAbagail  Graves;  had  children, 
Reuben,  b.  March  25,  1759 ;  Jerusha,  b.  March  16,  1762 ;  Asa,  b. 
May  6,  1765 ;  (still  living,  1849,)  Elizabeth ;  Abagail.  He  d.  April 
24,  1812 ;  his  w.  Abagail  d.  March  25,  1774,  aged  42. 

Gaius  Crafts,  (br.  of  above,)  b.  Dec.  22,  1727.  He  built  a 
house  a  little  distance  northwest  from  Benoni,  which  he  sold  to 
Israel  Graves.     Unmarried. 

Joel  Dickinson.  In  1752  he  settled  where  Calvin  Wells  now 
lives.  His  house  was  "  picketed,"  and  used  as  a  jort  for  the  three 
families  which  settled  that  year  in  the  central  part  of  the  town. 
Probably  the  women  and  children  of  these  families  dwelt  here  for 
the  first  year  or  two,  and   all  lodged  here  at  night.     Probably  all 


2b 

their  cattie  were  kept  here  ;  and  tradition  says,  that  while  the  women 
were  out  milking,  night  and  morning,  a  man  with  a  gun  would  stand 
guard.  The  Hatfield  people  did  not  deem  it  safe  for  them  to  re- 
main here  during  the  first  winter,  and  the  Selectmen  came  out  and 
carried  them  back.  They  left  their  corn  standing  in  the  fields,  and 
during  their  absence  the  Bears  destroyed  much  of  it. 

Had  children,  Elias ;  Joel ;  Nathaniel  ;  Reuben  ;  Mabel ;  Ra- 
chel ;  Betsey.     He  with  his  family  moved  to  Conway. 

Moses  Dickinson.  He  built  a  Dairy  house  in  the  orchard  W. 
of  Oliver  Dickinson's.  Perhaps  he  died  before  the  family  was  per- 
manently located  in  the  limits  of  Whately.  Wife,  Anna  ;  children, 
Samuel,  b.  March  9,  1749;  Rebekah ;  Miriam;  Irena ;  Anna; 
Martha.  His  w.  Anna  d.  March  7,  1804,  aged  92.  (The  father  of 
Moses  was  Samuel ;  d.  about  1738.  Children,  Benoni ;  Moses ; 
Anna  ;  Martha.) 

Elisha  Frary.  In  Jan.  1770,  he  built  a  house  in  an  orchard 
north  of  Wid.  Betsey  Smith's.     He  m.  Miriam  Warner  ;  they  had 

children,  Elisha,  b.  Jan.  1762 ;  Isaac,  b.  Aug.  22,  1763':  , 

died;  Elihu,  b.  Jan.  7,  1766;  Festus,  b.  Sept.  1767;  Miriam,  b. 
March,  1770  ;  Justus,  b.  Oct.  1771  ;  Lydia,  b.  Sept.  1773 ;  Philo- 
thete,  b.  April,  1775;  Dickinson,  b.  1777;  Jesse,  b.  Sept.  1780; 
Hannah,  b.  1782  ;  Mary,  b.  1784.  In  1798,  he  moved  to  Sharon, 
N.  Y.;  d.  July  8,  1801. 

Nathan  Graves,  (Deacon.)     He  settled  on  Chestnut  mountain, 

where  Wid.  Reuben  Graves  now  lives.     He  m.  Leonard ; 

had  children,  Amasa,  b.  June  26,  1743 ;  John,  b.  June  3,  1746  ; 
Lydia,  b.  June  26,  1748;  Elihu,  b.  May  16,  1750;  Jemima,  b.  Feb. 
19,  1752;  Nathan,  b.  July  19,  1754;  Asa,  b.  Sept.  22,  1758; 
Reuben,  b.  March  16,  1760;  Leonard,  (daughter,)  b.  March  25, 
1763;  Daniel,  b.  Sept.  26,  1769.  He  d.  April  2,  1786,  aged  70. 
His  w.  Leonard  d.  June  7,  1784,  aged  58. 

Oliver  Graves.  In  1761,  he  built  a  house  where  Jerry  Graves 
now  lives.  He  m.  Rebekah  Smith;  had  children,  Selah,  b.  May 
24,  1755;  Rebekah,  b.  Oct.  19,  1756;  Ruth,  b.  Nov.  4,  175S: 
Oliver,  b.  Feb.  9,  1761  :  Martha,  b.  Jan.  19,  1763;  Electa,  b.  Dec. 
27,  1764;  Salmon,  b.  March  24,  1767;  Elijah,  b.  April  24,  1769; 
Mercy,  b.  Aug.  27,  1771  ;  Judith,  b.  Dec.  27,  1775.  He  d.  Aug. 
30,  1810,  aged  84  ;  his  w.  Rebekah  d.  Feb.  1826,  aged  92. 

Israel  Graves,  (br.  of  O.)  He  bought  the  house  of  Gaius 
Crafts.  He  m.  Eunice  Wait ;  had  children,  Mary,  b.  Avis..  18,  1756  ; 
Israel,  b.  Oct.  23,  1758  ;  Joel,  b.  Aug.  16,  1760;  Eunice.  He  d. 
Sept.  8,  1773,  aged  56  ;  his  w.  Eunice  d.  Sept.  1,  1802,  aged  82. 

David  Graves.  He  settled  on  what  is  known  as  the  old  "  Stock- 
bridge  place."  He  in.  Abagail  Bardwell  ;  their  children  were, 
Elijah,  b.  July  18,  1720;  Simeon,  b.  April  18,  1722;  Matthew; 
Martin;  Abagail;  Martha,  b.  March  7,  1731;  David,  b.  June  7, 
1733;  Esther;  Anna;  Hannah.  He  d.  Aug.  25,  1781,  aged  87; 
his  w.  Abagail  d.  Oct.  31,  1786,  aged  b7. 


29 

Daniel  Morton,  b.  Dec.  23,  1720.  In  1759,  he  built  the  house 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  sou  Consider.  He  kept  tavern  for 
a  number  of  years.  His  was  the  only  public  house  in  the  region  in 
those  days.  People  from  the  Cape  and  Vineyard,  who  were  about 
settling  in  Conway,  made  this  their  home.     He  m.  first,  Esther 

,  b.  Dec.  16,  1723;  their  children  were,  Hannah,  b.  Sept.  7, 

1744;  Tabitha,  b.  July  1,  1746;  Tabitha,  b.  Aug.  2,  1747;  Sarah, 
b.  Dec.  14,  1749;  Mercy,  b.  Nov.  2-5,  1751 ;  Joel,  b.  Dec.  22,  1754  ; 
Daniel,  b.  Feb.  12,  1756  ;  Esther,  b.  Nov.  3,  1758;  Justin,  b.  Sept. 
25,  1760;  Consider,  b.  Oct.  12,  1762.  His  w.  Esther  d.  Oct.  27, 
1762.  He  m.  second,  Eleanor  Wait,  Dec.  6,  1764;  their  children 
were,  Tirzah,  b.  Jan.  24,  1771  ;  Roxa,  b.  July  26,  1774.  He  d. 
June  20,  1786  ;  his  w.  Eleanor  d.  April  1,  1816,  aged  86. 

Oliver  Morton,  b.  in  1722.  In  1761  or  62,  he  built  the  house 
next  south  of  the  central  burying  ground.  He  m.  first,  Hannah 
Gillett ;  their  children  were,  Samuel  Gillet,  b.  Aug.  12,  1758; 
Katharine,  b.  March  20,  1760  ;  Hannah,  b.  March  12,  1762  ;  Cla- 
rissa, b.  July  5,  1764;  Lemuel,  b.  July  24,  1766;  Sarah,  b.  Dec. 
8,  1768.  He  m.  second,  Wid.  Eleanor  Pomeroy,  (Lyman,  b.  Oct. 
29,  1736;)  their  children  were,  Oliver,  b.  April  2,  1777;  Stephen, 
b.Feb.4,  1779.    Hed. Sept.  16, 1789.   His w. Eleanor d. Sept. 3, 1825. 

Abraham  Parker.  He  came  from  Groton  ;  settled  in  Canter- 
bury, probably  in  1749.  He  built  a  small  log  house,  just  N.  of 
where  Capt.  Asa  Parker  now  lives.  He  was  drowned  in  attempting 
to  cross  the  Connecticut  River  on  the  ice,  March  12,  1757.  He 
m.  Lois  Blood  (of  Groton;)  had  children,  Lois,  b.  July  8,  1750; 
Abraham,  b.  May  31,  1752;  Susanna,  b.  Feb.  S,  1754  ;  Eunice,  b. 
Jan.  22,  1756;  Benjamin,  b.  Oct.  11,  1757.  His  w.  Lois  d.  Sept. 
27,  1814,  aged  88. 

Joseph  Sanderson.  He  came  from  Groton ;  settled  in  Canter- 
bury, where  Wid.  Lucy  Sanderson  now  lives,  probably  in  1752  or  3. 
He  m.  Ruth  Parker,  (sister  of  Abraham;)  their  children  were, 
Ruth;  Esther;  (one  of  these  m.  a  Dinsmore ;  the  other  was  unm.) 

,  who  m.  Jonathan  SpafFord  ;  ,  who  m.  Harvey ; 

Joseph;  Thomas,  b.  March  16,  1746;  Abraham,  b.  1747;  David  ;  (?) 
James;  John,  b.  March  11,  1754;  Asa,  b.  April  11,  1756;  Isaac, 
b.  Oct.  9,  1757,  (the  last  three  recorded  in  Hatfield.)  He  d.  March 
20,  1772,  aged  58 ;  his  w.  Ruth  d.  Dec.  8,  1780,  aged  64. 

David  Scott,  b.  Aug.  17,  1717.  In  1760,  he  bought  the  house 
built  by  Lieut.  Ebenezer  Bardwell ;  afterwards  built  where  Randall 
Graves  now  lives.  He  was  the  chief  carpenter  of  his  day,  and  uni- 
formly went  by  the  name  of  Master  Scott.  He  was  also  a  "  mighty 
hunter."  And  the  abundance  of  Bears,  Deer  and  Wolves,  gave  him 
full  scope  to  exercise  his  skill  in  this  line.  In  his  old  age  he  was 
extremely  fond  of  relating  his  hunting  exploits. 

He  m.  first,  Esther  ,  b.   Sept.  20,  1720;    their  children 

were,  Mercy,  b.  Oct.  25,  1741  ;  Lydia,  b.  Jan.  16,  1743;  Rhoda, 
b.  July  1,  1745;  Lucy,  b.  May  5,  1746:  David,  b.  Sept.  19,  1748: 


30 

Abel,  b.  April  15,  1751 ;  Selah,  b.  Nov.  19,  1753;  Phineas,  b.  March 

13,  1756;  Lucy,  b.  July  14,  1758;  Esther,  b.  July  20,  1761.  His 
w.  Esther  d.  Sept.  20,  1761.     He  d.  April  7,  1812. 

Joseph  Scott,  (son  of  Joseph.)  He  first  settled  on  the  plain, 
near  the  S.  line  of  Whately,  on  "  Mother  George  ;"  afterwards  in 
the  Straits.  He  m.  Margaret  Belding  ;  had  children,  Ebenezer,  b. 
April  22,  1750;  Joel,  b.  Oct.  9,  1751 ;  Peggy;  Joseph;  Gad;  Lu- 
cius; Abraham;  Hepzibah;  Isaac;  Israel;  Lydia  Leonard ;  Submit. 
He  d.  June  4,  1776,  aged  54. 

Elisha  Smith.  He  was  one  of  the  original  settlers  in  the 
Straits  ;  built  where  is  the  Gad  Smith  house.  He  m.  Sarah  Field  ; 
had  children,  Benjamin,  b.  Nov.  5,  1728;  Philip,  b.  July  2,  17:50; 
Abagail,  b.  July  2,  1732;  Paul,  b.  June  21,  1734;  Silas,  b.  Aug. 
15,  1736;  Sarah,  b.  Aug.  6,  1738;  Elisha,  b.  Oct.  13,  1740;  Jon- 
athan, b.  Aug.  18,  1742;  Eleanor,  b.  Aug.  14,  1744;  Mary,  b.  July 

14,  1746;  Gad,  b.  Jan.  23,  1749;  Esther,  b.  Dec.  8,  1751.  He  d. 
Nov.  17S4,  aged  80;  his  w.  Sarah  d.  Aug.  17,  1795,  aged  8S.  (He 
and  his  wife  were  commonly  known  as  "  Goodman"  and  "  Goody 
Smith.") 

Henry  Stiles.  He  built  a  house  southeast  from  Lyman  Dick- 
inson's, near  where  a  walnut  tree  stands.     He  m.  Ruth ;  their 

children  were,  Peggy  ;  Zilpah  ;  Lydia;  Lewis;  Esther.  He  d.  April 
20,  1810,  aged  80 ;  his  w.  Ruth  d.  July  5,  1812,  aged  86. 

Adonijah  Taylor.     He  built  a  house  and   mills  on  the  place 

now   owned    by   Silas   Sanderson.      He   m.   Rachel  ;    had 

children,  John ;  Edmund;  Solomon;  Eliphalet ;  Adonijah;  Obed  ; 
Clement ;  Theodore  ;  Mary ;  Electa  ;  perhaps  others. 

Peter  Train.  In  1761,  he  built  where  Rufus  Sanderson  now 
lives,  (the  original  house  was  burnt.)  He  m.  Sarah  Cole;  had 
children,  Oliver,  b.  Jan.  8,  1760;  Judith,  b.  Nov.  20,  1761 ;  Phebe, 
b.  Dec.  3,  1763;  Lemuel;  Selah,  b.  Dec.  29,  1766;  Lois,  b.  Dec. 
8,  1768;  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  8,  1770;  Lydia;  Lydia;  Content.  He  d. 
Jan.  21,  1793,  aged  68. 

Abraham  Turner.  Lived  near  the  Baptist  Meeting  House. 
Wife,  Thankful ;  had  children,  Abraham  ;  Ezra  ;   and  others. 

Simeon  Wait.  He  settled  on  what  was  then  called  "  The 
Island,"  where  J.  C.  Loomis  now  lives.  He  owned  100  acres  of 
land,  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  "  Lane."     He  sold  to  Abiel  Bragg, 

and   moved   to  the  Straits.     He  m.  Martha ;   had  children, 

Martha,  b.  Oct.  5,  1744;  Miriam,  b.  July  5,  1747;  Gad,  b.  March 
10,  1750-1. 

John  Wait,  (son  of  John,)  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  the 
Straits,  on  the  place  now  owned  by  John  Wait.  He  m.  first,  Sub- 
mit   ;  their  children  were,  Joel,  b.  March  13,  1726;  Jerusha, 

b.  Jan.  24,  1727-8;  Eleanor,  b.  April  4,  1730;  Seth,  b.  Aug.  12, 
1732;  Lydia,  b.  Sept.  26,  1734;  Katherine,  b.  Dec.  25,  1736; 
Chloe,  b.  Feb.  23,  1738:  Mary,  b.  April  18,  1741  ;  John,  b.  Nov. 


3t 

25,  1743;  Submit;  Joel,  b.  1756,  (the  last  by  second  wife.)     He 
(I.  1776,  aged  72;  his  second  w.  Mary  d.  Dec.  23,  1807,  aged  96. 

Noah  Wells.  About  the  year  1758,  he  built  a  house  west  of 
Wid.  Abel  Scott's.  He  m.  Abagail  Bardwell ;  had  children,  Lem- 
uel;  Elisha;  Daniel;  Abagail;  Simeon;  Perez,  b.  Nov.  30,  1757; 
Violet ;  John.     He  moved  to  Hawley,  where  he  and  his  w.  died. 

Salmon  White.  He  settled  where  Luke  B.  White  now  lives. 
He  in.  Mary  Wait;  had  children,  Salmon,  b.  Sept.  22,  1760;  John, 
b.  Jan.  9,  1762;  Mary,  b.  Jan.  24,  1764;  Elizabeth,  b.  Feb.  18, 
1766 ;  Mercy,  b.  March  3,  176S ;  Judith,  b.  Dec.  29,  1 770  ;  Thomas, 
b.  April  12,  1773;  Electa,  b.  Sept.  22,  1775.  He  d.  June  21,  1815, 
aged  84  ;  his  w.  Mary  d.  June  21,  1821,  aged  91. 

(Widow  Mary  Wait,  mother  of  Mary,  above,  spent  the  latter  part 
of  her  life  in  the  family  of  Dea.  White.  She  died  Aug.  18,  1791,. 
aged  99  years  and  9  months.  In  her  extreme  age  her  mental  fac- 
ulties almost  entirely  failed.  For  some  years,  her  life  was  literally  a 
second  childhood.  She  required  to  be  fed,  and  would  amuse  herself 
by  dressing  and  fondling  dolls,  and  other  infantile  sports.  But 
about  a  week  before  her  death,  her  mind  suddenly  brightened  up. 
She  spoke  intelligently  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Williams  of  Hatfield,  her 
former  Pastor  ;  and  repeated  the  whole  of  the  Assembly's  Shorter 
Catechism,  questions,  answers  and  proofs.  She  then  gradually  sunk 
away,  and  died  as  the  candle  goes  out  in  its  socket.) 

Names  of  other  early  Settlers. 

[The  figures  indicate  the  date  when  their  names  are  first  found.] 

Robert  Abercrombie,  1779.  Was  one  of  "  Burgoyne's  men.'r 
He  m.  Elizabeth  Bragg  ;  built  a  house  where  Pliny  Graves  lives. 

Solomon  Adkins,  1787.  From  Middletown,  Ct. ;  lived  first  in 
the  Straits  ;  then  where  Stolham  Allis  now  lives.  Had  children, 
Solomon,  b.  May  4,  1762;  Thankful ;  Giles;  Elijah.     He  d.  Feb. 

26,  1804,  aged  83;  his  w.  Thankful  d.  April  7,  1806,  aged  79. 

Joseph  Alexander,  1797.  He  m.  Hannah  Wait;  had,  Luther, 
b.  April  8,  1799  ;  perhaps  others. 

Thomas  Allen.  Lived  in  the  "  Straits,"  on  the  place  afterwards 
owned  by  Benj.  Bacon.  Was  from  Conn.  Had  children,  Daniel ; 
Lydia  ;  Philena  ;  Sobrina. 

Josiah  Allis,  1775,  (son  of  Elisha.)  He  built  a  house  N.  of 
Elliot  C.  Allis'.  He  m.  Anna  Hubbard ;  had  children,  Elijah,  b. 
Oct.  21,  1775;  Electa,  b.  Feb.  16,  1777;  Josiah,  b.  Jan.  5,  1779,- 
Anna,  b.  Dec.  3,  1780;  Lucy,  b.  Dec.  7,  1782;  Henry,  b.  July  29, 
1784;  Jerry,  b.  July  25,  1786;  Sally,  b.  April  22,  1788;  Almira, 
b.  Oct.  3,  1790;  Stolham,  b.  May  1,  1792;  Elisha,  b.  Jan.  4,  1794. 
He  d.  April  17,  1794,  aged  40;  his  w.  Anna  (m.  second,  Salmon 
White,)  d.  June  21,  1839. 

Russel  Allis,  1777.  He  built  where  Samuel  Doane  lives.  He 
m.  Sarah  Edson  ;    their  children  were,  Roxa,  b.  Feb.  24,  1776 ; 


32 

Sarah,  1).  April  19,  1778;  Lura,  b.  Feb.  20,  1780;    Demis,  b.  Dec, 
31,  1782;  Annis,  b.  Jan.  IS,  1784;  Polly. 

Daniel  Allis.  He  lived  on  the  Henry  Smith  place.  Wife,  Lydia  : 
had  children,  Moses,  b.  Sept.  20,  1782;  Daniel,  b.  Sept.  26,  L784  : 
Eleazer,  1).. July  17,1780;  Harris, b. Feb.  13,  1788;  Osee,  b.  June  26, 
1790;  Eurotus  and  Otus,  b.  May  27,  1798;  Austin,  b.  July  12, 
1794;  Patty,  b.  Sept.  30,  1795;  Lydia,  b.  Oct.  11,  1797;  Sophia, 
b.  May  24,  1800;  Eleazer,  b.  Sept.  23,  1803. 

Benjamin  Bacon,  1775.  Was  from  Killingly,  Ct.  Lived  in  the 
Straits,  opposite  the  "  Gilbert  place."  Had  children,  Abel  ;  Philo  ; 
Jonathan  ;  Benjamin  ;  Rufus.     He  d.  Sept.  4,  1814,  aged  87. 

Joseph  Barnard.  He  lived  where  the  Wid.  Ebenezer  Barnard 
now  lives.  Wife,  Esther ;  children,  Ebenezer,  b.  Oct.  2,  1752; 
Hannah,  b.  Dec.  15,  1754;  Moses,  b.  Feb.  13,  1757;  Joseph,  1). 
Aug.  20,  1759.     Was  from  Sunderland. 

Samuel  Bartlett,  b.  April  23,  1785;  m.  Sophia  Smith,  b.  Oct. 
30,  1790;  children,  Dwight  Smith;  Lewis;  Samuel  Dwight ; 
George  Smith  ;  Charles  Dexter. 

Zebina  Bartlett,  1803,  m.  Demis  Allis ;  children,  Alvan ; 
Sarah;  Tryphena;  Maria;  Lovisa  Demis;  Zebina  W.  ;    Elizabeth. 

James  Bigelow.     Lived  on  Poplar  Hill. 

Enoch  Bird,  1795.  Lived  on  Grass  Hill ;  w.  Celena;  children, 
Lydia  and  Sarah,  b.  Feb.  20,  1782;  Edmund,  b.  July  7,  1784; 
Celena  and  Levina,  b.  June  7,  1780;  Waitte,  b.  May  25,  1789; 
Enoch,  b.  Oct.  3,  1791  ;  Samuel,  b.  Sept.  23,  1793;  Polly,  b.  Feb. 
10,  1790  ;  Roxa,  b.  May  8,  1799. 

Abiel  Bragg,  1770.  Was  from  Petersham.  Bought  the  farm 
of  Simeon  Wait,  now  J.  C  Loomis'. 

. Bridgman.     Wife,  Elizabeth.     He  d.  May  7,  1S00,  aged 

70  ;  his  w.  d.  Jan.  10,  1812,  aged  79. 

John  Brooks,  1770.     Was  from  Glastenbury,  Ct. ;  w.  Sarah. 

Wait  Broughton,  1771.    Lived  in  the  Straits;  m.  Submit  Wait. 

Stephen  Burroughs,  1800.  W.  Amilla ;  children,  Amilla ; 
Stephen ;  Lyman. 

Joseph  Byrome,  1783.     Was  from  Bridgewater  ;  w.  Mary. 

Samuel  Carly,  1772.  Wife,  Submit ;  children,  John,  b.  Dec.  18, 
1708;  Dorothy;  Submit,  b.  Aug.  17,  1773;  Samuel,  b.  Nov.  15, 
1775;  Polly,  b.  April  20,  1778;  Samuel,  b.  Aug.  4,  1781  :  Abagail, 
b.  April  21,  1780. 

Richard  Carey,  1794. 

Thomas  Castle,  or  Castwell,  1779.  Lived  on  Grass  Hill ;  m. 
Miriam  Smith;  children,  Miriam;  Miriam:  Paulina;  Amilla: 
Pamela  ;  Thomas  ;  Sophia  ;  Submit  ;  John. 


33 

Perez  Chapin,  1778.  Lived  where  Calvin  Wells  now  does;  w. 
Elizabeth  ;  children,  Roxa ;  Giles  ;  Perez  ;  Sophia  ;  Alpheus  ; 
perhaps  others. 

Peter  Clark,  1808 ;  m.  Zilpah  Stiles. 

Justus  Clark,  1793.  A  merchant.  Had  children,  Theodore  ; 
Sylvester ;  and  others. 

Niles  Coleman,  (br.  of  Nathaniel,)  1775.  Was  from  Marlbor- 
ough, Ct.     Married  first,  Elizabeth ;  second,  Dolly  Taylor. 

Children,  Eli ;  Samuel ;  Louden ;  Polly ;  Josiah.  He  d.  Feb.  6, 
1779,  aged  71. 

Noah  Coleman,  17S9.  Lived  on  the  place  now  owned  by  J.  B. 
Morton.     Wife,  Lydia.     He  d.  Dec.  15,  1794,  aged  76. 

William  Cone,  1789.  From  Middletown,  Ct.  Lived  in  the 
Lane.     Wife,  Abia  ;  children,  Sally ;  Etta  ;  Epa  ;  perhaps  others. 

David  Cook,  1793.     Wife, ;  child,  Horace. 

James  P.  Cook.     From  Dedham  ;  m.  Electa  Graves. 

Benjamin  Cooley,  1800.  Children,  Frederick,  b.  Nov.  12,  1800 ; 
Benjamin  Lewis  and  Betsey  Shattuck,  b.  Feb.  19,  1804;  James,  b. 
Jan.  5,  1807;  Frederick,  b.  April  13,  1808;  M<3ses  Hastings,  b. 
March  19,  1814;  Eli  Parker,  b.  July  31,  1815;  Lucy,  b.  May  16, 
1817  ;  Fanny,  b.  Aug.  29,  1820.  - 

Hosea  Curtis,  1774.    Lived  west  of  Poplar  Hill.    Wife,  Susanna. 

James  Cutter.     He  in. Clark  ;  children,  Thomas  dark  ; 

Lorenzo  ;  Mary ;  Angeline  ;  James  Dexter. 

Abner  Dickinson,  (son  of  Ebenezer  and  Hannah,)  b.  Jan.  6, 
1723-4.     About  17T3,  he  built  a  house  S.  of  Lyman  Dickinson's. 

He  m.  Sarah  ;    had   children,  Ebenezer;    Mary;   Apphia; 

Jehu,  b.  May  8,  1758;  Betsey;  Hannah;  Abner,  b.  Sept.  8,  1766; 
Alpheus;  Content,  b.  May,  1773.  He  d.  Sept.  28,  1799;  his  w. 
Sarah  d.  May  27,  1813,  aged  S3. 

Gideon  Dickinson,  (son  of  Gideon  and  Rebekah,)  b.  Dec. 
29,  1744.  As  early  as  1770  or  71,  he  bought  the  place  where 
Dexter  Dickinson  now  lives.  He  m.  Lydia  Dickinson  ;  had  child- 
ren, Lydia;  Asa;  Daniel;  Gideon;  Ruth;  Dexter;  Giles;  two  or 
three  others  who  d.  young.  He  d.  Sept.  22,  1811  ;  his  w.  Lydia  d. 
Aug.  8,  1812,  aged  65. 

Benjamin  Dickinson,  1787.  From  Sunderland.  Wife,  Sarah. 
Children,  Charles,  b.  May  10,  1774;  Justus,  b.  Jan.  8,  1780;  Sarah, 
b.  Aug.  22,  1788  ,  Levinus,  b.  Sept.  10,  1792. 

Samuel  Daugherty,  1807.  Children,  Angelina;  Alonzo;  Car- 
oline ;  perhaps  others. 

Jonathan  Edson,  1773.  From  Ashfield,  (previously  from  Staf- 
ford, Ct.)     Built  a  house  E.  of  the  S.  C.  School  house. 

Thomas  Faxon.     Probably  from  Leicester.     Lived  on  Staddle 

Hill.     Wife,  ;  children,  Thomas  ;  Jacob  Allen  ;  Reuben  ; 

Calvin  ;  Samuel ;  Bathsheba  ;  Ruth. 
5 


34 

Noah  Field,  1774.  From  Conway  ;  m.  Mary  Brown.  He  d\ 
July  8,  1797,  aged  46. 

Zenas  Field,  (son  of  Eliakim  and  Esther,)  b.  Aug.  10,  1753. 
He  settled  where  John  Field  now  lives.  He  m.  Sarah  Burroughs  ; 
had  children,  Lydia,  b.  Sept.  17,  1782;  Orange,  b.  Dec.  2,  J7S4  ; 
John,  b.  Sept.  10,  178G;  Lydia,  b.  June  8,  1788;  Orange,  b.  Feb. 
22,  1790;  John,  b.  Oct.  10,  1792;  Rhoda,  b.  Nov.  21,  1794; 
Zenas,  b.  Sept.  22,  1796;  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  11,  1798;  Esther,  b.  Sept. 
21,  1800;  three  stillborn,  previous  to  1782.  He  d.  July  3,  1819; 
his  w.  Sarah  d.  Sept.  10,  1810,  aged  53. 

Eleazar  Frary,  1775.  Born  Jan.  2,  1752.  His  w.  Miriam 
was  b.  Dec.  22,  1751.  Children,  Miriam,  b.  Sept.  3,  1779;  Debo- 
rah, Dec.  4,  1784;  Fanny,  b.  Jan.  22,  1787  :  Hannah,  b.  Aug.  15, 
1789  ;  Otis,  b.  April  13,  1795. 

Seth  Frary,  (br.  of  Eleazar,)  1779,  b.  Sept.  2,  1758.  His  w. 
Esther  was  b.  July  27,  1761.  He  bought  the  place  of  Noah  Cole- 
man. Children,  Thomas,  b.  Feb.  12,  17S0 ;  Seth,  b.  Oct.  27, 17S3; 
Dexter,  b.  Aug.  10,  1786;  Esther,  b.  July  6,  1789;  Lydia,  b.  Nov. 
7,  1792;  Electa,  b.  Oct.  5,  1796;  Eleazar,  b.  Feb.  3,  1799;  Patty, 
Dec.  12,  1801. 

Phineas  Frary,  (son  of  Phineas  and  Mary,)  1775.  He  settled 
where  Lyman  Graves  now  lives.  Wife,  Rhoda  Morton  ;  children, 
Silas,  b.  Aug.  23,  1777  ;  Horace,  b.  Sept.  12,  1781  ;  Phineas,  b. 
Sept.  8,  1783  ;  Orange,  b.  April  8,  1785  ;  Rhoda,  b.  Sept.  11,  1788. 
He  d.  May  27,  1816,  aged  61. 

Paul  Gibbs,  1805  ;  m.  Anna  Coleman.  Children,  Elizabeth  ; 
Julia  ;  Dence  ;  Amasa  ;  Mehitable  Coleman. 

Oliver  Gilbert.  Lived  in  the  Straits,  S.  of  A.  W.  Nash's, 
with  his  son  Josiah.     He  d.  Sept.  4,  1814,  aged  91. 

William  Giles,  1783. 

Nathaniel  Gray.  Children,  Ebenezer  Macomber,  b.  Oct.  IS, 
1806;  Salome  Wright,  b.  March  3,  1809;  Harriet  Newell,  b.  Nov. 
20,  1815;  Philena  Macomber,  b.  Oct.  15,  1816. 

Samuel  Grimes.  Married  Hannah  Field.  He  d.  March  24, 
1816,  aged  45. 

Samuel  Harding,  1776.  From  Woodstock,  Ct.  Lived  on  the 
place  now  owned  by  Lyman  Harding.  He  m.  first,  Anna  Fisher; 
children,  Timothy ;  Stephen ;  Abagail.  He  m.  second,  Dinah 
Johnson;  children,  Abijah  and  Abiel ;  Keziah ;  Esther;  (m.  Justin 
Morton.) 

Francis  IIarwood,  M.  D.  1795.  From  Uxbridge.  Wife,  Lu- 
cinda ;  children,  Joshua  Dickinson,  b.  Nov.  25,  1790;  Roderick 
Bannister,  b.  Jan.  29,  1795;  Alonzo,  b.  April  1,  1797;  Myron,  b. 
Aug.  16,  1799;  Violet,  b.  Sept.  9,  IS01  ;  Justus  Forward,  b.  Oct. 
25,  1803 ;  Francis,  b.  June  14,  1806  ;  Eunice  Phelps. 

Isaac  Hatch,  1795.  Wife,  Esther;  children,  Resina  ;  Isaac: 
Esther ;  Emily  ;  Chester. 


35 

John  Hawley,  1774  ;  m.  Hannah  Scott.  Children,  Samuel .; 
Charity ;  Elizabeth  ;  Elizabeth  ;  perhaps  others. 

Robert  Hazard,  1795;  in.  Susanna  Jefferson. 

John  Hibbard,  1793  ;  m.  Irena  Belding. 

Joseph  Hill,  1776.  Lived  where  A.  S.  Stearns  now  does. 
Children,  Betsey,  b.  Feb.  6,  1778  ;  Pamelia,  b.  March  4,  1779  ; 
Alinda,  b.  June  26,  1780;  Luke,  b.  March  13,  1782;  Gideon,  b. 
Sept.  11,  1783;  Moses,  b.  March  30,  17S5;  Sally,  b.  Dec.  22,  1787; 
Esther,  b.  Aug.  4,  1789  ;  Rebekah,  b.  May  23,  1791  ;  Ruggles,  b. 
Dec.  30,  1793.     He  d.  Oct.  1796,  aged  66. 

David  Ingraham,  1775.  From  East  Hartford ;  m.  Jemima,  d. 
of  Dea.  Nathan  Graves. 

Amos  Jefferson,  17S5.    Lived  N.  of  Zebina  Bartlett's ;  w.  Sarah. 

Joel  Kellogg.     Died  Oct.  22,  1798,  aged  74. 

John  Lamson,  1774.  He  was  from  Ct.  Built  the  house  which 
recently  stood  N.  of  the  Town  Hall.  He  m.  Mercy  Morton  ;  child- 
ren, Annis  ;  Annis  ;  Billy  ;  Judson  ;  Lucretia  ;  Sophia  ;  Horace  ; 
Tirzah. 

John  Locke,  1774.  A  marble  worker  ;  w.  Ruth  Faxon  ;  child- 
ren, John  ;  Henry ;  Joanna  ;  Lucy ;  perhaps  others. 

Abner  Loomis.  From  Colchester  Ct.  Wife,  Zilpah  ;  children, 
Sally,  b.  Aug.  24,  1783;  Jonathan  C,  b.  Oct.  18,  1785;  William, 
b.  Sept.  26,  1789  ;  Leonard,  b.  July  30,  1797;  Luther,  b.  Nov.  20, 
1798.     He  d.  April  2,  1812,  aged  62. 

Marsh,  1782.     He  built  a  log  house  where  Elihu  Wait 

afterwards  lived. 

Amos  Marsh,  1783.  Lived  N.  of  Zebina  Bartlett's.  Wife, 
Elizabeth;  children,  Benjamin;  Calvin;  Thomas;  Amos;  Rufus; 
Sophia  ;  Electa  ;  Sarah  ;  Asa  ;  Melliscent ;  Emerson. 

Asa  Marsh,  1783.  Lived  on  the  place  now  owned  by  Levi 
Morton.  Wife,  Sarah;  children,  Isaac,  b.  May  19,  1780;  David, 
b.  Nov.  7, 1781  ;  Olive,  b.  June  5,  1783;  Asa,  b.  Sept.  29,  1786  ; 
Amanda,  b.  July  14,  1791;  Orange,  b.  May  31,  1793;  Sally,  b. 
Nov.  16,  1796.     (Was  son  of  Asa,  and  br.  of  Amos.) 

Benjamin  Mather,  b.  Lyme,  Ct.,  Sept.  19,  1731  ;  w.  Abagail, 
b.  Colchester,  Ct.,  Feb.  23,  1741.  Children,  Betty  Worthington, 
b.  Dec.  17,  1763;  Nabby,  b.  April  16,  1765;  William,  b.  Dec.  31, 
1766 ;  Rhoda,  b.  Jan.  1,  176S  ;  Elias,  b.  Oct.  25,  1769  ;  Samuel, 
b.  March  19,  1773;  Joseph  and  Benjamin,  b.  March  15,  1776; 
Cotton,  b.  March  4,  1779;  Marshrield  P.,  b.  Jan.  26,  1782.  He  d. 
Dec.  1822. 

Perez  Merrick,  1794. 

John  Morey,  1778.  He  built  a  log  house  where  Joseph  Hill 
afterwards  lived.  He  m.  Sarah  Turner.  Children,  John;  Erastus: 
Sarah  :  perhaps  others. 


36 

Simeon  Morton,  17S2.  Lived  where  Daniel  F.  M.  now  lives. 
Wife,  Sibyl ;  children,  Dexter,  b.  Sept.  4,  1782 ;  Bathsheba,  b. 
Sept.  22,  1784;  Reuben,  b.  Aug.  31,  17SG  ;  Martha,  b.  Aug.  22, 
L789;  Submit,  b.  March  30,  1792;  Electa,  b.  March  27,  1794. 
His  w.  Sibyl  d.  Jan.  9,  1827.     He  d.  April  23,  1816,  aged  66. 

Levi  Moiiton,  17 S3.  Lived  on  Spruce  Hill.  Wife,  Sarah; 
children,  Sarah,  b.  March  30,  1778;  Lucinda,  b.  Nov.  11,  1779; 
Lucy,  b.  Dec.  2,  1781  ;  Chester,  b.  Oct.  14,  1784  ;  David,  b.  June 
20,  178G  ;  Lucretia,  b.  March  13,  1788  ;  Horace,  b.  June  20,  1790  ; 
Justus,  b.  Oct.  17,  1792  ;  Moses,  b.  Julv  23,  1794  ;  Levi,  b.  Oct. 

23,  1796;  Lucy,  b.  Sept.  28,  1798.    He  d.  April  25, 181G,  aged  63. 

Jacob  Mosher.  From  Hollis,  N.  II.;  m. Pierce;  child- 
ren, Jacob  ;  Mary  ;   Solomon  ;  Lucy  ;  Rufus  ;  Clarissa. 

Moses  Munson.  From  Farmington,  Ct.  Lived  where  James 
Smith  now  lives.  Children,  Moses;  Levina ;  Abagail ;  Anna; 
Sarah  ;  Margary ;  Joel.     He  d.  July  13,  1817,  aged  72. 

Reuben  Munson,  1784,  (br.  of  Moses.)  He  first  settled  where 
John  Bement  Wait  now  lives  ;  then  on  the  place  now  owned  by  John 
Munson.  Was  m.  to  Sibyl  Smith,  July  16,  1769.  Children,  Sal- 
mon, b.  Sept.  24,  1770;  Lucv,  b.  June  3,  1772;  Reuben,  b.  Feb. 

24,  1774;  Selah,  b.  June  28,  1776;  Reuben,  b.  Feb.  19,  1778; 
Joel,  b.  Feb.  28,  1780;  Benjamin,  b.  March  22,  1782;  Mary,  b. 
March  12,  1784;  Sibyl,  b.  March  2,  1786;  Sibyl,  b.  Feb.  29,  1788; 
Diadema,  b.  Feb.  4, 1790 ;  John,  b.  Jan.  3, 1 792 ;  Osee,  b.  Oct.  3, 1793. 

Joseph  Nash,  1783.  Was  from  Amherst;  built  the  house  S.  of 
Elijah  Allis',  now  untenanted.  Wife,  Lucy;  children,  Mary,  b. 
Aug.  4,  1779;  Alpheus,  b.  May  25,  1781;  Joseph,  b.  March  6, 
1783;  Cotton,  b.  May  6,  1785;  Chester,  b.  .May  10,  1787;  Lucy, 
b.  April  2,  1789;  Electa,  b.  April  11,  1791  ;  David,  b.  Dec.  28, 
1793.     He  d.  May  15,  1804,  aged  60. 

Abner  Nash,  (br.  of  J.)  1787;  m.  Hannah  Dickinson,  Nov.  8, 
1787;  children,  Roanna  ;  Content;  Theodosia  ;  perhaps  others. 

Stephen  Orcutt,  1777.  He  m.  first,  Theodora  Scott;  second, 
Miriam  Frary.     Children,  Eleazar ;  Walter  ;  and  others. 

Solomon  Pease.  From  Enfield,  Ct.  Built  a  small  house  in  the 
Straits  where  Stephen  Clark  now  lives,  which  he  sold  to  Solomon 
Adkius  ;  w.  Keziah  Hall. 

Jonathan  Pierce,  1778. 

Aaron  Pratt,  1783.  Bought  the  place  of  Joseph  Belding ;  m. 
first,  Rachel  Smith  ;  second.  Jerusha  Brown. 

Winslow  Richardson,  1778.    From  Bridgewater  ;  w.  Elizabeth. 

George  Rogers.  Settled  where  his  son  Daniel  now  lives. 
Children,  George  ;  Daniel  :  Anna.  He  d.  Oct.  1S23  ;  his  w.  d. 
Feb.  2,  1824. 

Edward  Ruddock,  1789:  m.  Martha  Sanderson. 


Nathaniel  Sartle  or  Sartwell,  1772 ;  m.  a  d.  of  A  don  ij  ah 
Taylor. 

Benjamin  Scott.  He  settled  very  early  in  the  Straits,  on  the 
place  now  owned  by  Phineas  Frary.  He  m.  Jemima  Tuttle  ;  had 
children,  Benjamin,  whom.  Abagail  Belding;  James;  perhaps  others. 
He  d.  Aug.  1, 1792,  aged  85;  his  w.  Jemima  d.  April  13, 1802,  aged  88. 

Calvin  Sexton.  Children,  Luther,  b.  Sept.  13,  1800;  Mary, 
b.  June  19,  1802  ;  perhaps  others. 

Oliver  Shattuck,  1775.  Lived  on  the  Eben.  Barnard  place. 
Wife,  Lucy  ;  children,  Emily ;  Lucy  ;  Emily  ;  Polly  ;  Henry  and 
Harriet ;  Electa. 

John  Smith.  About  1776,  he  moved  from  Hatfield,  and  settled 
where  Hiram  Smith  now  lives.  He  m.  Lydia  Frary,  (sister  of 
Phineas;)  children,  Olive,  (m.  Abiel  Harding;)  Elijah,  (killed  by 
a  fall;)  Electa;  Martha;  Mary;  John,  (d.  young.)  The  family 
moved  to  Sullivan,  N.  Y. 

James  Smith,  1795.  From  Springfield  ;  m.  Bathsheba  Morton, 
Jan.  27,  1808.  Children,  Remembrance  ;  Sibyl ;  James  S. ;  Sibyl ; 
Laura  Munson  ;  James  ;  Joseph  A. ;  Elizabeth  Burt ;  Charlotte. 

Lemuel  Snow,  1777.  From  Stafford,  Ct. ;  w.  Margaret.  He 
d.  Nov.  11,  1777,  aged  48. 

John  Starks.  Lived  on  the  place  now  owned  by  Caleb  Beals. 
The  ancestors  of  John  came  originally  from  Scotland.  First  settled 
in  Mansfield,  Ct. ;  went  thence  to  Hanover,  N.  H.,  whence  John 
came  to  Whately.  Children,  John;  Phebe;  Israel;  Prince  William; 
Tryphena;  Justus;  Mercy;  Willard.     He  d.  Dec.  1825,  aged  70. 

David  Stockbridge.  He  settled  in  the  Straits,  on  the  David 
Graves'  place,  where  he  kept  tavern  for  many  years ;  moved  from 
there  to  Canterbury.  He  m.  Sarah  Allis  ;  children,  Annis,  b.  Dec. 
17,  1799;  Chester,  b.  May  25,  1801  ;  Emily,  b.  Jan.  10,  1803; 
Hiram,  b.  Jan.  8,  1805;  Julia  Ann,  b.  Aug.  1,  1807;  Charles  David ; 
b.  Oct.  2,  1816;  Amaret  Sarah,  b.  Dec.  9,  1819.  He  m.  second, 
Lovisa  Collins  of  Hartford,  Ct.     He  d.  Jan.  4,  1847,  aged  70. 

Heman  Swift.  Was  from  Barnard,  Vt. ;  w.  Orpha  Howard. 
Children,  Sylva;  Fanny;  Salome;  Orpha;  Betsey;  Sabra;  Heman; 
Kingsley;  Carlos.      He  d.  June,  1834;  his  w.  Orpha  d.  Jan.  27,  1847. 

Thompson.     Lived  on  Grass  Hill. 

Asa  Todd,  Rev.  1789.  From  Westfield.  Lived  W.  of  Poplar 
Hill.  Children,  Lucretia,  b.  May  8,  1783 ;  Justus,  b.  June  24,  1785 ; 
David  M.,  b.  Aug.  28,  1787;  Marah,  b.  Oct.  15,  1789;  Lyman,  b. 
Oct.  30, 1791 ;  Esther,  b.  April  30, 1794  ;  Zobede,  b.  Sept.  26,  1796. 

Nathan  Wait,   1798.      Lived  with  his  son  Jeremiah,   where 

J.  B.  Wait  now  lives.     He  m.  Hannah ;  had  children,  Mary, 

b.  June  5,  1740;  Jeremiah,  b.  Dec.  16,  1742,  (m.  Rachel  Bement;) 
Elijah,  b.  Feb.  3,  1744  ;  Asa,  b.  March  23,  1746-7.  He  d.  Nov. 
25,  1798,  aged  SO. 


38 

Elihu  Wait,  (son  of  Elisha  and  Martha  Wait,)  b.  Aug.  14,  1758. 
He  bought  the  place  where  Rufus  AVait  now  lives.  Wife,  Rebekah  ; 
children,  Lucretia,  b.  Nov.  5, 1779  ;  Polly,  b.  April  5,  1784  ;  Calvin, 
b.  May  22,  1  785  ;  Demis,  b.  June  20,  1780  ;  Sally,  b.  July  26,  1787  ; 
Luther,  b.  Jan.  21,  1788;  Roxa,  b.  April  1(5,  1789;  Rufus,  b.  July 

9,  1790;  Chester,  b.  Dec.  24, ;  Rebekah,  b.  Dec.  12, ; 

Elihu,  b.  June  2, ;  Sylvester,  b.  June  12,' -. 

Consider  Wait,  (br.  of  Elihu,)  b.  March  25,  17G2.  Lived  on 
Poplar  Hill.  Children,  Nancy,  b.  Nov.  29,  178S;  Cynthia,  b.  Jan. 
20,  1790;  James,  b.  March  18,  1791;  Enos,  b.  April  1,  1792; 
Henry,  b.  March  27,  1793;  Sally,  b.  June  1C,  1790;  William,  b. 
Nov.  11,  1797;  John,  b.  May  26,  1799;  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan.  16,  1801. 

Jonathan  Wait,  (br.  of  above,)  b.  April  20,  1774  Settled  on 
Grass  Hill.  First  w.  Betsey,  b.  March  1,  1777;  children,  Eliza, 
b.  May  26,  1798;  Amy,  b.  Aug.  11,  1800;  Horace,  b.  1802; 
Martha,  b.  Dec.  2,  1803;  Elsie,  b.  Jan.  14,  1806;  Alpha,  b.  Dec. 
16,  1807  ;  Delight,  b.  Aprjl  20,  1810;  Horace,  b.  Sept.  29,  1811  ; 
Sophia,  b.  Sept.  10,  1813;  Spencer,  b.  Oct.  5,  1814;  daughter,  b. 
Jan.  23,  1817.  His  w.  Betsey  d.  Jan.  23,  1817.  Second  w.  Nancy 
b.  April  24,  1 784  ;  children,  Nancy,  b.  Oct.  6,  1820  ;  Betsey,  b.  Sept. 
22,  1822;  Electa,  b.  Oct.  26,  1824;  Chauncey,  b.  Dec.  5,  1828. 

Jacob  Walker.  Lived  on  the  place  now  owned  by  J.  P.  Dick- 
inson.    Was  killed  in  attempting  to  arrest  a  "  Shay's  man.'3 

Jesse  Warner.     Lived  on  Poplar  Hill. 

Rufus  Wells,  Rev.  1771.  Was  from  Deerfield.  His  children 
were,  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  6,  1777;  Rebekah,  b.  Nov.  27,  1778;  a  son, 
b.  July  5,  1780;  Thomas,  b.  Dec.  12,  1781  ;  Luke,  b.  March  28, 
1783;  Luke,  b.  July  4,  1784;  Elizabeth,  b.  March  25,  1780; 
Sophia,  b.  Sept.  30,  17S7;  a  daughter,  b.  Nov.  26,  1789.  His  w. 
Sarah  d.  April  27,  1796,  aged  40.  His  second  w.  Temperance  d. 
Oct.  7,  1830,  aged  74.     He  d.  Nov.  8,  1834,  aged  91. 

Israel  Wells.  He  m.  Dolly,  d.  of  Gad  Smith ;  children, 
Sedgwick,  b.  Dec.  22,  1801  ;  perhaps  others. 

Reuben  Winchell.  Wife,  Chloe.  He  built  the  house  now 
owned  by  Eurotus  Dickinson. 

John  Wood.  Married  Fanny  Hibbard  ;  children,  Eliphas  H. ; 
Maria ;  Samuel ;  Fanny ;  Sarah  ;  George. 

Martin  Woods.  Married  Electa  Bacon  ;  children,  Lucinda  ; 
Lydia  ;  Hopkins  ;  Meliscent ;  Electa. 

Jonathan  Woods.    Married  Aletha  Gilbert.    He  d.  May  10, 1821. 

Seth  Wright.     Married  Ruth  Fuller. 


39 

Children  of  the  Church  who  have  become  Ministers  of  the  Gospel. 

Alvan  Sanderson,  born  Dec.  13,  1780,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Lucy  Sanderson;  Grad.  Williams  Coll.  1802;  ordained  at  West- 
hampton,  Feb.  4,  1807;  Installed  Colleague  Pastor  with  Rev.  Ne- 
hemiah  Porter,  Ashfield,  June  1808;  died  June  22,  1817. 

Pomeroy  Belding,  b.  March  15,  1811,  son  of  Aaron  and  Sarah 
Belding  ;  Grad.  Amherst  Coll.  1833  ;  Andover  Theol.  Sem.  1836  ; 
ordained,  Warwick,  Aug.  8,  1837  ;  installed,  Amherst  E.  Parish, 
Sept.  14,  1842;  d.  March  2,  1849. 

Alonzo  Sanderson,  b.  June  24,  1808,  son  of  Joseph  and  Con- 
tent Sanderson ;  Grad.  Amherst  Coll.  1834 ;  ordained,  Ludlow, 
Jan.  1839;  installed,  Tolland,  July  12,  1843. 

Rufus  Porter  Wells,  b.  Feb.  4,  1818;  son  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  Wells;  Grad.  Amherst  Coll.  1842;  ordained  Jonesboro',  E. 
Tenn.  by Presbytery,  1846. 

William  Bardwell,  b.  Oct.  13,  1813,  son  of  Orange  and  Eu- 
phame  Bardwell ;  studied  at  Wesleyan  University,  Middletown,  Ct. 
ordained  by  Methodist  Conference,  May,  1846. 

Communion  Furniture. — The  two  Flagons  and  the  two  Tank- 
ards were  purchased  in  1797,  from  funds  bequeathed  to  the  church 
by  Deacon  Obadiah  Dickinson  of  Hatfield.  The  two  silver  Cups 
and  four  Tumblers  were  presented  to  the  church  in  1822,  by 
Messrs.  Francis  Beldin<r,  Reuben  Belding,  and  Aaron  Belding. 


Choristers,  "  to  set  the  Psalm  in  meeting,"  were  chosen  by  the 
Church  till  1S21,  when  they  were  elected  by  the  Choir.  The  per- 
sons first  chosen  by  the  Church,  Oct.  16,  1771,  were  John  Wait, 
Jr.  John  Graves,  and  Elihu  Graves  :  those  chosen  by  the  Choir  in 
1821,  were  R.  B.  Harwood,  and  Warner. 


Early  local  Names  of  Roads  in  Whately. 

Canterbury  road — retains  the  same  name. 

Straits  road,  "         "      "        " 

Christian  lane,  "  "       "  ° 

Chestnut  plain  road — N.  and  S.  through  central  village. 

Poplar  Hill  road — N.  and  S.  by  Bap.  M.  House. 

Hog  Mountain  road — N.  and  S.  by  W.  Burying  ground. 

Spruce   Hill   road — E.  and  W.  from  the  Meeting  house  to  "  Est- 
her :"   a  branch  run  S.  by  Justus  Graves'. 

Mount  Esther  road — E.  and  W.  from   Spruce  Hill  r.  to  Bap.  M. 
House. 

Chestnut  Mountain  road — N.  and  S.  by  Wid.  Reuben  Graves'. 

Dry  Hill  road — by  South  West   School  House. 

Grass  Hill  road — W.  from  Osee  Munson  place. 

The  Straits  road  was  probably  the  original  path  from  Hatfield  to 

Deerfield  ;  very  early  a  road  was  opened,  branching  west  from  this, 


40 

running  through  "  Egypt,"  and  "  Clavorack,"  crossing  the  hill 
near  Calvin  Wells',  thence  northwesterly  by  John  Lyman  Morton's, 
and  west  of  Consider  Morton's. 


The  people  of  Whately  entered  early,  and  heartily  into  the  strug- 
gle of  the  Colonies  for  Independence.  A  letter  was  sent  to  this, 
as  to  other  towns,  in  the  spring  of  1773,  by  the  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence in  Boston.  A  meeting  was  immediately  called,  and  a 
Committee  of  three,  viz. — Edward  Brown,  Elisha  Frary,  and  Jo- 
seph Belding,  Jr.,  was  chosen,  to  answer  the  said  letter.  The 
Committee  drew  up,  and  forwarded  (by  vote  of  the  town)  the  fol- 
lowing reply. 

"  Gentlemen  : — The  proceedings  of  the  town  of  Boston  under 
the  present  exigencies,  we  esteem  very  laudable  and  worthy  of  a 
metropolis.  We  concur  in  general  with  your  sentiments  in  stating 
the  Rights  of  the  Colonists  and  Province,  and  of  the  infringe- 
ments of  these  Rights.  We  hold  fast  Loyalty  to  our  Sovereign  ; 
yet  we  groan  under  our  burden,  but  do  not  despair  of  redress.  If 
the  importunity  of  a  poor  widow  may  move  an  unjust  judge  to 
avenge  her,  how  much  more  may  we  hope  for  redress  by  frequent 
application  to  a  gracious  King.  We  shall  at  all  times  heartily  join 
with  you,  in  all  legal  and  constitutional  measures  for  the  keeping 
of  these  inestimable  privileges,  wrested  from  us,  and  firmly  to  se- 
cure those  that  remain.  For  we  are  sensible  that  should  we  re- 
nounce our  Liberty  and  privileges,  we  should  renounce  the  rights 
of  man,  the  rights  of  humanity,  and  even  our  duty  to  God  and 
man.  We  have  no  doubts  but  that  the  Parliament  of  Great  Brit- 
ain will  hereby  understand  that  'tis  not  the  discontentedness  of  a 
faction,  but  that  the  whole  people  are  sensible  of  the  burdens  they 
labor  under." 

The  town  sent  Deputies  to  the  several  Provincial  Congresses  ; 
Oliver  Graves  was  sent  to  the  first ;  Elisha  Frary  to  the  second  ; 
Noah  Wells  and  Salmon  White  to  the  third. 

In  Dec.  1774,  the  town  Voted,  "  To  provide  100  wt.  of  powder, 
200  wt.  of  lead,  and  200  flints  for  the  use  of  the  town."  Early  in 
1775,  minute  men  were  enlisted,  and  officered  ;  and  a  Committee 
of  Correspondence  appointed. 

July  6,  1776,  it  was  Voted,  "  That  incase  the  Continental  Con- 
gress shall  declare  the  Colonies  to  be  in  an  independent  state  from 
Great  Britain,  we  will  support  the  declaration  with  our  lives  and 
fortunes." 


